Patent ID: 6261228
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: A61B,G01J,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, said endoscope being used to view an image of an object, said device comprising:a light shielding system that shields light generated by a light source and transmitted to said endoscope;a stepping motor for driving said light shielding system for a plurality of predetermined time intervals;a system that detects a brightness of said image during each of said plurality of predetermined time intervals;an input system that inputs one of a plurality of desired brightnesses of said image;a generating system that generates a predetermined number of pulses during each of said plurality of predetermined time intervals, said predetermined number of pulses being transmitted to said stepping motor;a setting system that sets one of a plurality of allowed brightness ranges of said image in accordance with an input of one of said desired brightnesses of said image; anda system that determines whether said detected brightness is within the set one of said plurality of allowed brightness ranges.