Abstract:
An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor. The video-scope has an objective lens and an illuminating lens in a tip portion. Further, the electronic endoscope has a luminance calculator and a light-amount adjuster. The luminance calculator divides the total area of a subject image into a plurality of division areas, defines weighted areas from the plurality of division areas in accordance with the tip characteristics of the video-scope, and calculates a total luminance value of the subject image by putting priority on predetermined weighted areas relative to the other areas. The light-amount adjuster adjusts the quantity of light illuminating the subject in accordance with the total luminance value.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope for observing or operating on the inside of an organ, such as a stomach. Particularly, the present invention relates to adjusting the brightness of a subject image displayed on a monitor.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In an electronic endoscope, light emitted from a light source passes through a fiber-optic bundle provided in a video-scope, and is radiated from the tip of the video-scope via an illuminating lens. A subject to be observed is illuminated by the radiated light, and then a subject image is formed on an image sensor via an objective lens provided at the tip portion. Image signals generated in the image sensor are read and various processes are carried out on the image signals so that the subject image is displayed on the monitor.  
           [0005]    In general, to maintain proper brightness of the subject image, the quantity of light illuminating the subject is automatically adjusted. In a conventional electronic endoscope, for adjustment of the quantity of light, a stop (diaphragm) is provided between the light source and an incident surface of the fiber-optic bundle, and is controlled such that the brightness of the displayed subject image is maintained at a constant level. A representative luminance value, indicating the brightness of the subject image is successively calculated on the basis of the image signals. Then, the control of the stop is performed at regular time-intervals, in accordance with the difference between the calculated luminance value and a reference value indicating a proper brightness. For calculating the luminance value, namely, for the metering, the average metering or the peak metering is performed. In the case of the average metering, an average value of one frame worth of the subject image is calculated. On the other hand, in the case of the peak metering, a relatively high luminance value among the one frame worth of the subject image is defined as the representative luminance value. The operator selects the metering method as required.  
           [0006]    The characteristics of the tip portion of the video-scope, such as the radius, the relative position of the objective lens and the illuminating lens, and so on, vary with the observed organ, such as a stomach, bronchi, a colon, and so on. Especially, the arrangement relationship between the objective lens and the illuminating lens is different. Consequently, the distribution characteristics of the light-amount on the image sensor vary with the characteristics of the tip portion. However, when the light adjustment is performed without regard to the tip characteristics, the luminance value cannot be properly calculated for a specific video-scope, so that the brightness of the subject image cannot be maintained at a proper level.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope that properly adjusts the amount of light illuminating the subject in accordance with the tip characteristics of a connected video-scope.  
           [0008]    An electronic endoscope according to the present invention has a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor. A plurality of video-scopes are connectable to the video-processor, and the video-scope, which is one of the plurality of video-scopes, is selectively connected to the video-processor. The electronic endoscope has a light source that emits light. An illuminating lens and an objective lens are provided in the tip of the video-scope. The illuminating lens transmits the light, which is emitted from the light source and is radiated from the tip of the video-scope, to a subject so that the subject is illuminated. The objective lens forms a subject image on the image sensor.  
           [0009]    The electronic endoscope according to the present invention has further an image processor, a tip characteristic detector, a metering setter, a luminance calculator, and a light-amount adjuster. The image processor generates luminance signals from image signals, which are read from the image sensor. The tip characteristic detector detects the tip characteristics corresponding to the attached the video-scope. The tip characteristics include at least the arrangement relationship between the objective lens and the illuminating lens. The metering setter defines a plurality of division areas by dividing the total area of the subject image into a plurality of areas and sets a plurality of weighted coefficients corresponding to the plurality of division areas, in accordance with the tip characteristics. The luminance calculator calculates a plurality of segment luminance values corresponding to the plurality of division areas, and calculates a total luminance value indicating the total brightness of the subject image. At this time, the luminance calculator multiplies each of the plurality of the segment luminance values by a corresponding weighted coefficient among the plurality of weighted coefficients. The light-amount adjuster adjusts the quantity of light illuminating the subject in accordance with the total luminance value.  
           [0010]    The automatic light-amount adjustment apparatus for the electronic endoscope, according to the present invention, has an image processor that generates luminance signals from image signals read from the image sensor, a tip characteristic detector that detects the tip characteristics corresponding to a type of the video-scope, a metering setter that defines a plurality of division areas by dividing the total area of the subject image into a plurality of areas and sets a plurality of weighted coefficients corresponding to the plurality of division areas, in accordance with the tip characteristics, a luminance calculator that calculates a plurality of segment luminance values corresponding to the plurality of division areas, and calculates a total luminance value indicating a total brightness of the subject image, by multiplying each of the plurality of the segment luminance values by a corresponding weighted coefficient among the plurality of weighted coefficients, and a light-amount adjuster that adjusts a quantity of light illuminating the subject in accordance with the total luminance value. The tip characteristics include at least the arrangement relationship between an objective lens and an illuminating lens provided in the tip of the video-scope.  
           [0011]    The electronic endoscope according to the present invention has a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor. The video-scope has an objective lens and an illuminating lens in a tip portion of the video-scope. The electronic endoscope has a luminance calculator and a light-amount adjuster. The luminance calculator divides the total area of a subject image into a plurality of division areas, assigns weighted areas to the plurality of division areas in accordance with the tip characteristics of the video-scope, which includes at least the arrangement relationship between an objective lens and an illuminating lens, and calculates a total luminance value of the subject image by putting the priority on the weighted areas relative to the other areas. The light-amount adjuster adjusts a quantity of light illuminating the subject in accordance with the total luminance value. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The present invention will be better understood from the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention set fourth below together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope according to the present embodiment.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing the tip portion of the video-scope and an image of both a subject and an implement.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a view showing a main routine performed by the CPU of the video-processor.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a view showing the photo-sensitive area of a CCD seen from the objective lens side.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a view showing an interrupt routine associated with the automatic light-amount adjustment process performed in a light adjusting circuit.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a view showing a subroutine of Step S 202  in FIG. 5.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a view showing a subroutine of Step S 203  in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope according to a present embodiment.  
         [0022]    In the electronic endoscope, a video-scope  50  with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)  54  and a video-processor  10 , which processes image signals read from the CCD  54 , are provided. A monitor  32  for displaying a subject image and a keyboard  34  for inputting character information are respectively connected to the video-processor  10 . The video-scope  50  is detachably connected to the video-processor  10 . When an operation or inspection is started, the video-scope  50  is inserted into a body.  
         [0023]    When a lamp switch (not shown) is turned ON, electric power is supplied from a lamp electric power supplier  11  with a lamp controller  11 A, to a lamp  12 . Thus, light is emitted from the lamp  12 . The emitted light enters into an incidence surface  51 A of a fiber-optic bundle  51  via a condenser lens  14 . The fiber-optic bundle  51  is a bundle for transmitting the light from the incidence surface  51  to the tip portion  60 . The light that enters passes through the fiber-optic bundle  51  and is radiated from the distal end surface  51 B of the fiber-optic bundle  51 . Consequently, the radiated light passes through an illuminating lens  52  and illuminates a subject (observed portion) S. Further, a forceps tube  58  and water and air supplying tubes (not shown) are provided in the video-scope  50 . An implement (herein not shown) for operating is inserted into the forceps tube  58  as required.  
         [0024]    Light reflected on the subject S passes through an objective lens  53  and then reaches the CCD  54  provided in the tip portion  60 . Consequently, the subject image is formed on the CCD  54 . In this embodiment, for the color imaging process, the on-chip color filter method using single color filter array is applied. On a photo-sensitive area of the CCD  54  (herein not shown), a color filter array (not shown), checkered by four color elements of Yellow (Y), Magenta (M), Cyan (C), and Green (G), is arranged such that the four color elements are opposite the pixels arranged in the photo-sensitive area. In the CCD  54 , color image signals, corresponding to light passing through the color elements, are generated by the photoelectric transform effect. The generated color image signals are read from the CCD  54  at regular time intervals in accordance with the so called “color difference line sequential system”. In this embodiment, the NTSC standard is applied as the color TV standard, accordingly, one field (frame) worth of image signals is read from the CCD  54  at {fraction (1/60)} ({fraction (1/30)}) second time intervals, and is then fed to an initial signal processing circuit  55 .  
         [0025]    In the initial signal processing circuit  55 , various processes are performed for the image signals, so that video signals including luminance signals and color difference signals are generated. Further, the initial signal processing circuit  55  has a CCD driver (not shown), which feeds driving signals to the CCD  54 . The generated video signals are fed from the initial signal processing circuit  55  to a latter signal processing circuit  28  in the video-processor  10 , and luminance signals are further fed to a light adjusting circuit  23 . Synchronizing signals also are fed to the light adjusting circuit  23  in accordance with the luminance signals fed to the light adjusting circuit  23 .  
         [0026]    In the latter signal processing circuit  28 , various processes, such as an image-outline correction, are performed for the video signals. The processed video signals are output to the monitor  32  as NTSC composite signals, S-video signals, and R, G, B component signals. Thus, the subject image is displayed on the monitor  32 .  
         [0027]    A system control circuit  22 , including a CPU  24  (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory)  25 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  26 , controls the video-processor  10  and feeds control signals to the lamp controller  11 A, the latter signal processing circuit  28 , and so on. In a timing control circuit  30 , clock pulses are output to each circuit in the video-processor  10 , and synchronizing signals to be interleaved in the video signals are fed to the latter signal processing circuit  28 . A program for controlling the video-processor  10  and data associated with a light-amount adjustment table described later, are stored in the ROM  25  in advance.  
         [0028]    A stop  16 , which is provided between the incidence surface  51   a  of the fiber-optic bundle  51  and the condenser lens  14 , opens and closes by driving the motor  18 . In this embodiment, the adjustment of the quantity of light, which passes through the stop  16 , namely, the quantity of light which illuminates the subject S, is performed by the light adjusting circuit  23  constructed of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The analog luminance signals output from the initial signal processing circuit  55  are converted to digital luminance signals in an A/D converter (not shown) and are then fed to the light adjusting circuit  23 . As described later, the subject image formed on the CCD  54  is divided into a plurality of areas. In the light adjusting circuit  23 , a segment luminance value is calculated for each of these areas on the basis of the input luminance signals, and a representative luminance value, indicating a total brightness of the subject image, is calculated from the total of segment luminance values. The light adjusting circuit  23  feeds control signals to a motor driver  20  in accordance with the representative luminance value. The motor  18  drives the stop  16  in accordance with the control signals so that the stop  16  opens or closes such that the amount of light illuminating the subject S becomes constant.  
         [0029]    A scope controller  56 , provided in the video-scope  10 , controls the video-scope  10 , namely, outputs a control signal to the initial signal processing circuit  55 , and then reads scope data associated with the video-scope  10 , which includes the tip characteristics of the video-scope  10 , from an EEPROM (Electronic Erasable Programmable ROM)  57 . In the scope data, the pixel number of the CCD  54 , the size of the CCD  54 , the arrangement relationship between the illuminating lens  52  and the objective lens  53 , and the position of a forceps outlet  59 A, which is at the distal end of the forceps tube  58 , are respectively stored as data. When the video-scope  10  is connected to the video-processor  10 , the scope data is fed from the EEPROM  57  to the system control circuit  22 . In the lightadjustingcircuit 23 , automatic light-amount adjustment is performed in accordance with the scope data of the connected video-scope  50 .  
         [0030]    On a front panel  46  of the video-processor  10 , a setting switch  46 A for setting the reference luminance value is provided. The reference luminance value represents a standard luminance value in the automatic light-amount adjustment. When the operator operates the setting switch  46 A, an operation signal is fed to the system control circuit  22 . The reference luminance value data is temporarily stored in the RAM  26 , and is fed to the light adjusting circuit  23 . When the keyboard  34  is operated to display character information on the monitor  32 , the operation signal is fed to the system control circuit  22 . Consequently, a character signal is superimposed into the video signals in the latter signal processing circuit  28 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing the tip portion  60  of the video-scope  50  and an image of subject and an implement.  
         [0032]    In general, the arrangement of the illuminating lens and the objective lens depends upon the type of the video-scope, which is directly related to the organ to be observed. For example, in the case of the lower digestive tract, such as a colon, the radius of the tip portion of the video-scope is large. Further, a water transmitting tube for washing or staining the observed portion, and water and air supplying tubes for washing the objective lens are provided in the video-scope. The arrangement positions of the illuminating lens and the objective lens are influenced by the arrangement positions of the water transmitting tube and the water and air supplying tubes. On the other hand, in the case of a higher digestive tract and bronchi, the radius of the video-scope is small. Accordingly, the arrangement positions of the objective lens and the illuminating lens are restricted. In this embodiment, two types of video-scopes are prepared in advance and one of the two types is selectively connected to the video-processor  10 . One type for the higher digestive tract is designated as “type A”, and the other type for the lower digestive tract is designated as “type B”.  
         [0033]    In the case of the type A video-scope  50 , the optic-fiber bundle forks at the tip portion  60 , and the illuminating lens  52  is composed of two lenses  52 A and  52 B. Further, a water and air outlet  61  for the water and air supplying tubes is formed on the tip portion  60 . The objective lens  53  is arranged between the illuminating lenses  52 A and  52 B,and the arrangement of the illuminating lenses  52 A and  52 B is symmetrical with the objective lens  53  (See FIG. 2A). Accordingly, the amount of light becomes equal over the total of the photo-sensitive area of the CCD  54 . Similarly, in the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the illuminating lens  52  is composed of two illuminating lenses  52 A and  52 B provided in the tip portion  60 . However, two water and air outlets  61  are formed on the tip portion  60 , one is used for the water supplying and the other is used for the air supplying, and the arrangement of the illuminating lenses  52 A and  52 B is nonsymmetrical with the objective lens  53 . In the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the distance between the illuminating lens  52 A and the objective lens  53  is shorter than the distance between the illuminating lens  52 B and the objective lens  53 . Accordingly, the area of the total photo-sensitive area, which is close to the illuminating lens  52 A, receives the light, by an amount much more than the other area.  
         [0034]    In this way, the distribution of the light-amount on the photo-sensitive area varies with the arrangement relationship between the illuminating lenses  52 , and the objective lens  53 . Therefore, the detected brightness of the subject image varies with the characteristics of the tip portion, namely, the types of the video-scopes. In this embodiment, as described later, the brightness of the subject image is calculated in accordance with the tip characteristics of the video-scope.  
         [0035]    Further, since the position of the forceps outlet  59 A varies with the type of video-scope  50 , the position of the implement tip image, which is displayed on the monitor  32  with the observed image, also varies with the type of used video-scope. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the case of the type A video-scope  50 , the implement tip image  59  is displayed at upper-left position on the monitor  32 . On the other hand, in the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the implement tip image  59  is displayed in the upper-center position on the monitor  32 . The displayed position of the implement tip  59  depends upon the arrangement relationship between the forceps  59 A and the objective lens  53 . When using the implement, in this embodiment, as described later, the brightness of the subject image is detected while considering the image of the metallic implement tip  59  that reflects the light for illuminating the subject.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is a view showing a main routine performed by the CPU  24  of the video-processor  10 . FIG. 4 is a view showing the photo-sensitive area of the CCD  54  seen from the objective lens side, seen from the tip side of the video-scope  50 . When electric power is supplied, the process of the FIG. 3 is started.  
         [0037]    In Step S 101 , the stop  16 , the lamp  12  etc., are subjected to the initial setting. In Step S 102 , it is determined whether the video-scope  50  is connected to the video-processor  10 . When it is determined that the video-scope  50  is not connected to the video-processor  10 , Step S 102  is repeatedly performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the video-scope  50  is connected to the video-processor  10 , the process goes to Step S 103 .  
         [0038]    In Step S 103 , the scope data including the tip characteristics of the video-scope  50  are read from the EEPROM  57  in the video-scope  50 . Then, in Step S 104 , the division pattern of the photo-sensitive area  54 A and the values of the weighted coefficients for the division areas are defined in accordance with the tip characteristics.  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the photo-sensitive area  54 A of the CCD  54  is divided into 12 areas (herein, designated as “area A 1 ”, “area A 2 ”, “area A 3 ”, “area A 12 ”). The twelve division areas A 1  to A 12  are defined by radially drawing a boundary line from the center point CP. Note that, in this embodiment, the pixel number of the CCD  54  is smaller than the pixel number of the image area of the monitor  32 . Then, 12 weighted coefficients W(x) (X=1, 2, . . . , 12), are set in accordance with the 12 division areas. When the video-scope  50  is connected to the video-processor  10 , values of the 12 weighted coefficients W(x) are defined in accordance with the type of connected video-scope  50 , namely, the tip characteristics. The values of the weighted coefficients W(x) are different for each type of the video-scope  50 , and are stored in advance in the ROM  25  as light-amount adjustment table data. The total luminance value of the subject image is calculated on the basis of the segment luminance values corresponding to the 12 division areas and the 12 weighted coefficients W(x).  
         [0040]    As described above, in the case of the type A video-scope  50 , since the arrangement of the illuminating lens  52 A and  52 B has symmetry, the distribution of the light-amount on the photo-sensitive area  54 A of the CCD  54  becomes equal in each division area. Accordingly, when the type A video-scope  50  is connected to the video-processor  10 , the values of the weighted coefficients W(x) are set such that all of the values become equal. This indicates that the total luminance value is calculated by using so called “average metering” when using the type A video-scope  50 . Herein, the values of the weighted coefficients W(x) are respectively defined to “1”.  
         [0041]    On the other hand, in the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the light-amount of the division areas A 5 , A 6 , and A 7  is less than the other division areas A 1  to A 4  and A 8  to A 12 , because the arrangement of the illuminating lens  52 A and  52 B is nonsymmetrical as described above (See FIG. 2B) and the division areas A 5 , A 6 , and A 7  are far from the illuminating lenses  52 A and  52 B. Accordingly, the values of the weighted coefficients W( 5 ), W( 6 ), and W( 7 ) are defined such that they become smaller than the values of the weighted coefficients of the other division areas, as follows:  
           W ( x )=1.2 ( X= 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)  (1)  
           W ( x )=0.8 ( X= 5, 6, 7)  (2)  
         [0042]    This indicates that the total luminance value is calculated by so called “weighted average metering” when using the type B video-scope  50 . Herein, the division areas except for AS, A 6 , and A 7  are designated as “weighted areas”.  
         [0043]    In Step S 104 , the weighted coefficients W(x) for the connected video-scope  50  are read from the ROM  25  in accordance with the scope data fed from the EEPROM  57 , and are then fed to the light adjusting circuit  23 . Further, in Step S 104 , as described later, area data, corresponding to the arrangement of the forceps outlet  59 A, is fed from the ROM  25  to the light adjusting circuit  23  in accordance with the arrangement data of the forceps outlet  59 A, which is included in the scope-data. After Step S 104  is performed, the process goes to Step S 105 .  
         [0044]    In Step S 105 , it is determined whether the video-scope  50  has been detached from the video-processor  10  to connect another type of video-scope. When it is determined that the video-scope  50  has been detached from the video-processor  10 , the process goes to Step S 102 . On the other and, when it is determined that the video-scope  50  has not been detached, the process goes to Step S 106 , wherein other processes, such as a process associated with the keyboard  34  and time display are performed. After Step S 106  is performed, the process returns to Step S 105 . Steps S 102  to S 106  are repeatedly performed unless the main power switch is turned OFF.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5 is a view showing an interrupt routine associated with the automatic light-amount adjustment process performed in the light adjusting circuit  23 . This interrupt routine interrupts the main routine shown in FIG. 3, and is performed at {fraction (1/30)} sec time-intervals, which corresponds to the scanning time. Note that, herein, the luminance level obtained for each pixel is divided into 256 levels (stages), and the range of luminance values is set to the range from 0 to 255.  
         [0046]    In Step S 201 , it is determined whether halation generation variable “KM” is 0. When using a metallic implement during an operation, the tip portion of the implement projects from the forceps outlet  59 A, so that a specific area, in which the implement tip image  59  is displayed, among the 12 division areas has a high luminance value due to the reflection of light from the implement. Thus, a white color portion is generated, namely, a halation is generated in the monitor  32 . The halation generation variable “KM” is used in a situation where a halation is substantially generated. As described later, when a halation is generated by using an implement, the halation variable “KM” is set to “1”, whereas the halation variable “KM” is set to “0” when a halation is not generated. When it is determined that the halation generation variable is 0, the process goes to Step S 202 , wherein a normal light-amount adjustment process is performed.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a view showing a subroutine of Step S 202  in FIG. 5. In Step S 301 , the division areas and the division number D are set in the light adjusting circuit  23 . In this embodiment, the twelve division areas A 1  to A 12  are set as shown in FIG. 4, and the division number D is  12 . In Step S 302 , the reference value Vref, which is a preset value or a value set by the operator, is read from the RAM  25 . Herein, the reference value Vref is set to “128”. In Step S 303 , the values of the weighted coefficients W(x) (x=1 to 12) are set in accordance with the weighted coefficients data fed from the system control circuit  22 . In the case of the type A video-scope  50 , all of the values of the weighted coefficients W(x) are set to “1”. On the other hand, in the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the values of the weighted coefficients W(x) are set in accordance with the above formulae (1) and (2). After step S 303  is performed, the process goes to Step S 304 .  
         [0048]    In Step S 304 , the segment luminance values A(x) (x=1, 2, . . . , 12), which indicate the representative luminance value in the corresponding division area, are calculated. Each of the segment luminance values A(x) is obtained by calculating the sum of the luminance values for each pixel and dividing the sum by the number of pixels constructing the subject image. In Step S 305 , the products of the weighted coefficients and the segment luminance values “W(X)×A(x)” are calculated for the 12 division areas A 1  to A 12 , and a luminance sum SUM (=ΣW(x)×A(x), x=1, 2, . . . , 12) is calculated.  
         [0049]    In Step S 306 , the luminance sum SUM is divided by the area number D (=12), so that the total luminance value Vr, which is the representative luminance value indicating the brightness of the total subject image, is calculated. After Step S 306  is performed, the process goes to Step S 307 .  
         [0050]    In Step S 307 , a luminance difference ΔV between the total luminance value V r  and the reference luminance value V ref  is calculated. In Step S 308 , a control signal is fed to the motor driver  20  in accordance with the luminance difference ΔV. Thus, the stop  16  is driven by a given amount corresponding to the luminance difference AV. After Step S 308  is performed, the process returns to Step S 202  in FIG. 5, and goes to Step S 204 .  
         [0051]    On the other hand, when it is determined that the halation generation variable KM is 1 in Step S 201  shown in FIG. 5, namely, a halation has been generated, the process goes to Step S 203 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a view showing a subroutine of Step S 203  in FIG. 5. The performance of Steps S 401  to S 403  corresponds to the performance of Steps S 301  to S 303  in FIG. 6. Namely, the division areas A 1  to A 12 , the area number D, and the weighted coefficients W(x) are defined. In Step S 404 , for the forceps area AK among the twelve division areas A 1  to A 12 , the value of the weighted coefficient W(e) is set to “0”. Note that, the forceps area AK indicates the specific area, in which the implement tip portion  59  is displayed. For example, in the case of the type B video-scope  50 , since the implement tip image is formed in the division area A 2 , the division area A 2  is set as the forceps area AK and the weighted coefficient W(e=2) is set to “0”. On the other hand, in the case of the type A video-scope  50 , since the implement tip image is formed in the division area A 4 , the division area A 4  is set as the forceps area AK and the weighted coefficient W(e=4) is set to “0”. Forceps Data associated with the forceps area AK is stored in the EEPROM  57  in advance. When the video-scope  50  is connected to the video-processor  10 , the forceps data is read from the EEPROM  57  in Step S 103  and is then fed to the light adjusting circuit  23  in addition to the weighted coefficient data in Step S 104  (See FIG. 3). After Step S 405  is performed, the process goes to Step S 406 .  
         [0053]    The performance of Steps S 406  to S 410  corresponds to the performance of Steps S 304  to S 308  in FIG. 6. Namely, the total luminance value Vr is calculated, and the stop  16  is driven in accordance with the luminance difference ΔV between the total luminance value V r  and the reference luminance value V ref . At this time, for the calculation of the total luminance value V r , the products of the segment luminance value A(x=e) and the corresponding weighted coefficient W(e) become “0”. After step S 410  is performed, the process returns to Step S 203  and goes to Step S 204  in FIG. 5.  
         [0054]    In Step S 204 , it is determined whether the segment luminance value A(x) corresponding to the forceps area AK is larger than a boundary luminance value Vb. The boundary luminance value Vb is a threshold value regarding the halation. When the segment luminance value A(x) is larger than the boundary luminance value Vb, it is regarded that a halation has been generated due to the implement tip portion  59 . Herein, the boundary luminance value Vb is set to “220”.  
         [0055]    When it is determined that the segment luminance value A(x) corresponding to the forceps area AK is larger than the boundary luminance value Vb in Step S 204 , namely, the forceps area AK is remarkably bright compared to the other division areas, the process goes to Step S 205 , wherein the halation generation variable KM is set to “1”. Consequently, in the next interrupt routine, the process goes from Step S 201  to Step S 203 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the segment luminance value A (x) corresponding to the forceps area AK is not larger than the boundary luminance value Vb, namely, the implement is not being used, the process goes to Step S 206 , wherein the halation generation variable KM is set to “0”. Consequently, in the next interrupt routine, the process goes from Step S 201  to step S 202 . When Step S 205  or Step S 206  is performed, this interrupt routine is terminated.  
         [0056]    In this way, in this embodiment, the scope data including the tip characteristics are read from the EEPROM  57  in the video-scope  50 , and the weighted coefficients W(x) are defined in accordance with the scope-data. The weighted coefficient data are fed to the light adjusting circuit  23 , and then the segment luminance values A(x) and the total luminance value V r  are calculated. The stop  16  is controlled in accordance with the luminance difference ΔV.  
         [0057]    In the case of the type B video-scope  50 , the values of the weighted coefficients W( 5 ), W( 6 ), and W( 7 ) are set to smaller values compared to the other weighted coefficients W( 1 ), W( 2 ), W( 3 ), W( 4 ) W( 8 ) W( 9 ) W( 10 ) W( 11 ), and W( 12 ). Thus, the proper total luminance value V r  is calculated so that the brightness of the subject image is always properly maintained. Also, in the case of the type A video-scope  50 , since all of the weighted coefficients W(x) are set to “1”, the proper total luminance value Vr is calculated.  
         [0058]    Further, in this embodiment, the forceps area data is read from the EEPROM  57  and is then fed to the light adjustment circuit  23 . Then, the weighted coefficient W(x) corresponding to the forces area AK is set to “0”. Thus, the proper total luminance value V r  is calculated even when using the implement.  
         [0059]    Other types of video-scopes connectable to the video-processor  10  may be prepared in advance in addition to the type A and B the video-scopes  50 . In this case, weighted coefficients, namely, the metering method corresponding to the tip characteristics need to be defined.  
         [0060]    The weighted coefficient data may be stored in the EEPROM  57  of the video-scope  50  in place of the ROM  25  in the video-processor  10 . In this case, the weighted coefficient data is directly read by the video-processor  10 .  
         [0061]    The illuminating lens  52  may be composed of a single lens. The total luminance value Vr may be calculated by other calculation methods in place of the above calculation method (Step S 306 , S 408 ). The segment luminance values A(x) may also be calculated by other calculation methods.  
         [0062]    In this embodiment, the pixel number of the CCD  54  is smaller than the pixel number on the image area of the monitor  32 . When the pixel number is larger than the pixel number of the image area, the division areas are defined on the basis of image to be displayed on the image area of the monitor  32  in place of the photo-sensitive area  54 A.  
         [0063]    In this embodiment, the lamp  12  and the signal processing circuits including the latter signal processing circuit  128  are provided in the video-processor  10 , however, an independent light source apparatus and an independent signal process apparatus may be provided.  
         [0064]    Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is of preferred embodiments of the device, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.  
         [0065]    The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in Japanese Patent Application No.2001-304873 (filed on Oct. 1, 2001) which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.