Patent ID: 6707485
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A light control system for electronic endoscopes comprising:an image sensor for obtaining an image of the object under observation; a light source for illuminating the object under observation; a diaphragm for variably regulating the light output from said light source so that the luminance of the image is optimum; a diaphragm drive circuit for driving said diaphragm variability; a light-source voltage control circuit for controlling a light-source voltage to change brightness of the said light source itself; and means for control which controls said light-source voltage control circuit, supplies a constant light-source voltage to said light source under normal shooting conditions, and raises said light-source voltage only when it is judged, based on the detected luminance signal of the image of the object under observation obtained by said image sensor, that the luminance of the image will be insufficient even with the diaphragm fully open.