Patent ID: 9186054
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a timing generator which outputs an index signal in predetermined cycles; an image pickup section including a solid image pickup device in which color filters of a plurality of colors are provided at front faces of a plurality of light-receiving devices, the image pickup section being so as to pick up an image of a site to be observed for each of image pickup cycles, the each of the image pickup cycles being a period from when the index signal is inputted to when a next index signal is inputted; a first light-emitting device which emits first illuminating light with which the site to be observed is irradiated; a second light-emitting device which emits second illuminating light with which the site to be observed is irradiated, the second illuminating light having a color different from a color of the first illuminating light; an illumination control section which drives the first light-emitting device such that the site to be observed is irradiated with the first illuminating light, and drives the second light-emitting device such that irradiation of the site to be observed with the second illuminating light is started with reference to a timing at which the irradiation with the first illuminating light is finished, within one of the image pickup cycles; and an image pickup control section which controls the image pickup section so as to collectively read out, within one exposure period in one of the image pickup cycles, image signals of respective colors obtained by the light-receiving devices performing photoelectric conversion on return lights which are returned from the site to be observed irradiated with the first and second illuminating lights and which have passed through the color filters of the plurality of colors, wherein the illumination control section drives the first and second light-emitting devices, within one of the image pickup cycles, such that the timing at which the irradiation with the first illuminating light by the first light-emitting device is finished is substantially at a same time as a timing at which the irradiation with the second illuminating light by the second light-emitting device is started, and the timing for stopping of the first light-emitting device is detected on the basis of a detection result from an optical sensor which detects light emitted from the first light-emitting device.