Photographing light quantity controller for endoscope

Abstract

A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope, which is used to control the quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to be taken through the endoscope. The photographing light quantity controller comprises a device for supplying light for illuminating an object to the endoscope, a device for detecting a quantity of light that is reflected from the object and for outputting a signal in accordance with the detected quantity of light, and a device for amplifying the signal, with the amplifying device having a plurality of amplification factors which can be selected as desired. A photographing light quantity control device is provided for controlling the quantity of illuminating light that is supplied to the endoscope when a photographing operation is conducted, on the basis of the output signal from the amplifying device. A device is also provided for automatically switching over the amplification factors of the amplifying device from one to another in accordance with the brightness of the object.

We claim: 
     
       1. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope, which is used to control a quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to be taken through said endoscope, comprising: means for supplying light for illuminating an object to said endoscope;   means for detecting a quantity of light that is reflected from said object and for outputting a signal in accordance with the detected quantity of light;   means for amplifying said signal, said amplifying means having a plurality of amplification factors which can be selected as desired;   photographing light .[.quality.]. .Iadd.quantity .Iaddend.control means for controlling the quantity of illuminating light that is supplied to said endoscope when a photographing operation is conducted, on a basis of the output signal from said amplifying means; and   means for automatically switching over said amplification factors of said amplifying means from one to another in accordance with a brightness of said object.   
     
     
       2. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope, which is used to control a quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to be taken through said endoscope, comprising: means for supplying light for illuminating an object to said endoscope;   a device for photographing said object;   photoelectric conversion means for converting a brightness level of light, that is reflected from said object, into an electric signal;   means for integrating an output from said photoelectric conversion means and outputting a resulting integral value;   means for amplifying the output value from said integrating means, said amplifying means having a plurality of amplification factors which can be selected as desired;   photographing light quality control means for controlling the quantity of illuminating light that is supplied to said endoscope when a photographing operation is conducted, on a basis of the output signal from said amplifying means;   a switch for initiating said photographing operation of said photographing device .Iadd.and .Iaddend.said control operation of said photographing light quantity control means; and   means for automatically switching over said amplification factors of said amplifying means from one to another in accordance with a brightness of said object.   
     
     
       3. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said amplifying means has a plurality of amplifiers with different amplification factors. 
     
     
       4. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said amplification factors are switched over in such a manner that, when the output value from said integrating means is small, an amplification factor switching means selects a large amplification factor from among said plurality of amplification factors of said amplifying means, whereas, when the output value from said integrating means is large, said amplification factor switching means selects a small amplification factor from among said plurality of amplification factors. 
     
     
       5. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said amplification factors switching means switches over said amplification factors from one to another after said switch is turned on. 
     
     
       6. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said amplification factor switching means switches over said amplification factors from one to another before said switch is turned on. 
     
     
       7. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said integrating means integrates the output from said photoelectric conversion means for a period of time which is shorter than an exposure time immediately after exposure has been initiated, at least with respect to a photographing plane in said photographing device. 
     
     
       8. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said photographing light quantity control means obtains a rate of change of the output value from said amplifying means per unit time and controls the quantity of illuminating light for photographing on a basis of the value obtained. 
     
     
       9. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 8, wherein said photographing light quantity control means calculates remaining exposure time required to obtain the quantity of illuminating light for photographing from said rate of change of the output value from said amplifying means per unit time and terminates the supply of the illuminating light to said endoscope after said remaining exposure time has elapsed. 
     
     
       10. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 8, wherein said photographing light quantity control means terminates the supply of the illuminating light to said endoscope when the output value from said amplifying means reaches a predetermined value. 
     
     
       11. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said amplification factor switching means selects one said amplification factors on the basis of the output value from said amplifying means that is delivered a short time after said switch is turned on. 
     
     
       12. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said photographing light quantity control means controls the quantity of illuminating light for photographing on a basis of a rate of change of the output value from said amplifying means per unit time after an amplification factor is selected by said amplification factor switching means. 
     
     
       13. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said amplification factor of said amplifying means, this is employed when said photographing light quantity control means controls the quantity of illuminating light, is not larger than said amplification factor of said amplifying means that is employed when said amplification factor switching means selects said amplification factor. 
     
     
       14. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 2, further comprising means for making a comparison between the integral value, outputted from said integrating means after said switch has been turned on, and a preset reference value, and for terminating the supply of the illuminating light to said endoscope when said integral value reaches said reference value. .Iadd. 
     
     
       15.  A method for controlling a quantity of photographing light for an endoscope when a photograph of an object is taken through said endoscope during a photographing operation, the method comprising: supplying light for the illumination of said object to said endoscope by an illuminating device;   detecting a quantity of light reflected by said object;   generating a light quantity signal corresponding to said quantity of light;   integrating said light quantity signal and emitting a resultant integral value;   controlling said quantity of photographing light which is supplied to said endoscope when carrying out a photographing operation depending on said integral value;   calculating, after a first period of time after the beginning of exposure, a remaining exposure time from said resultant integral value in the photographing operation; and   amplifying said resultant integral value by a first amplification factor during said first time period, and a second amplification factor during the remaining exposure time after calculation of the remaining exposure time. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  The method according to claim 15, wherein said first amplification factor is higher than said second amplification factor. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising amplifying said resultant integral value by a third amplification factor before said first period of time, said third amplification factor being lower than said first amplification factor. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The method of claim 15, comprising converting a brightness level of said light reflected by said object into an electric signal and calculating said remaining exposure time for reaching the required quantity of photographing light from an increase of the resultant integral value amplified per unit time. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: comparing said resultant integral value with a reference value during the duration of exposure; and   stopping said exposure upon a first occurrence of one of said remaining exposure time elapsing and said resultant integral value reaching said   
     
     
        reference value. .Iaddend..Iadd.20.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope which is used to control a quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to be taken through said endoscope, comprising: means for supplying light for illuminating an object to said endoscope;   means for detecting a quantity of light that is reflected from said object and for outputting a signal in accordance with the detected quantity of light;   a device for integrating said light quantity signal outputted by said detecting means and for emitting a resulting integral value, said resultant integral value being an integral output voltage;   photographing light quantity control means for controlling the quantity of illuminating light that is supplied to said endoscope when a photographing operation is conducted, depending on said resultant integral value;   a device for calculating a remaining exposure time from said resultant integral value after a first period of time after a beginning of exposure in the photographing operation; and   an amplifying system that amplifies said resultant integral value by a first amplification factor during said first time period, and by a second amplification factor during the remaining exposure time after calculation   
     
     
        of the remaining exposure time. .Iaddend..Iadd.21.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 15, wherein said amplifying system is operable using a plurality of amplification factors, and including a device that automatically switches over said plurality of amplification factors of said amplifying system so that said resultant integral value is amplified by said first amplification factor during said first period of time and by said second amplification factor during said remaining exposure time after calculation of said remaining exposure time. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 20, wherein said amplifying system comprises a plurality of amplifiers having different amplification factors. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 20, wherein said means for detecting comprises a photoelectric conversion device for converting a brightness level of the light reflected by said object into an electric signal; and wherein said device for calculating a remaining exposure time further comprises a device for forming a derivation of said resultant integral value to be used in calculating said remaining exposure time.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.24.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 20, further comprising a light source shutter adjacent said means for supplying light, said exposure being stopped by 
     
     
        closing said light source shutter. .Iaddend..Iadd.25.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 20, wherein said amplifying system is operable using a plurality of amplification factors, and including a device that automatically switches over said plurality of amplification factors of said amplifying system so that said resultant integral value is amplified by said first amplification factor during said first period of time, by another amplification factor after said first period of time and before said remaining exposure time is calculated, and by said first amplification factor after calculation of 
     
     
        said remaining exposure time. .Iaddend..Iadd.26.  A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope according to claim 20, further comprising: a comparing device for comparing said resultant integral value with a predetermined reference value; and   means for stopping said exposure upon a first occurrence of one of said integral output voltage value reaching said predetermined reference value and said remaining exposure time elapsing. .Iaddend.