Patent Publication Number: US-2003236446-A1

Title: Endoscope device

Description:
[0001] This application claims benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-181910 filed in Japan on Jun. 21, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an endoscope device that comprises an insert portion and performs examinations of a variety of internal parts.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In recent years, endoscopes have come to be adopted widely in medical fields and industrial fields and so forth.  
       [0006] A variety of such endoscopes have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,803,562, 5,153,721, 6,120,435, 6,126,591, and so forth, for example.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The endoscope device of the present invention comprises: an endoscope insert portion that comprises a solid-state image pickup element in the distal end portion thereof; a device main body that houses a signal processing device for processing an output signal from the solid-state image pickup element; an image recording section for recording a picture signal produced by the signal processing by the signal processing device; and an image display section for displaying the picture signal, wherein a general-purpose personal digital assistant is constituted by the image recording section and the image display section.  
       [0008] Further, the endoscope device of the present invention is an endoscope device, comprising: an endoscope main body, which comprises an elongated insert portion that is flexible and includes a solid-state image pickup element in the distal end portion thereof, an operation section provided at the back end of the insert portion, and a cable that extends from the operation section; a device main body, which comprises a connection portion for freely detachably connecting the cable of the endoscope main body, a signal processing device that processes an output signal from the solid-state image pickup element, and a light source for supplying illumination light to a light guide of the insert portion of the endoscope main body; an image recording section for recording a picture signal produced by the signal processing by the signal processing device; and an image display section for displaying the picture signal, wherein a general-purpose personal digital assistant is constituted by the image recording section and the image display section. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the whole constitution of an endoscope device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the schematic external appearance shape thereof;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the external appearance of a modified example;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of thumbnail images displayed on a monitor;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the whole constitution of an endoscope device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the schematic external appearance shape thereof in an application example;  
     [0015]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the constitution of the device main body of the modified example; and  
     [0016]FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the schematic constitution of an endoscope device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0017] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.  
     [0018] (First Embodiment)  
     [0019] FIGS.  1  to  4  relate to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the whole constitution of the endoscope device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 shows the schematic external appearance shape thereof; FIG. 3 shows the external appearance shape of the modified example; FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing thumbnail images displayed on a monitor.  
     [0020] As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope device  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is constituted by an endoscope device main body (abbreviated to simply ‘device main body’ hereinafter)  2 , a flexible and elongated insert portion  3  that extends from the device main body  2 , and a personal digital assistant (abbreviated to ‘PDA’ hereinafter)  4  that is a general-purpose personal digital assistant connected to the device main body  2  via a connector  5 .  
     [0021] A light guide  11  for transmitting illumination light passes through the inside of the insert portion  3 , and transmits illumination light from a light source  12  housed in the device main body  2  to the light guide  11  so that this light exits via the surface of the distal end of the insert portion  3 . Then, the emitted illumination light disperses forward from the surface of the distal end of the light guide  11  so as to illuminate a photographic subject that is an examination target such as an internal part of a plant, for example.  
     [0022] Further, an objective lens  13  is provided at an observation window of the distal end portion of the insert portion  3 . A solid-state image pickup element  14  that comprises a CCD (Charge coupled device) and the like is disposed at the image formation position of the objective lens  13  such that the optical image of the photographic subject whose image is formed is photoelectrically (O/E) converted. The solid-state image pickup element  14  is connected via signal lines  15  to a CCU (Camera Control Unit)  16  which is a signal processing device housed in the device main body  2 . The CCU  16  reads the O/E-converted image pickup signal (image signal) by applying a drive signal to the solid-state image pickup element  14 , and subjects the image pickup signal thus read to processing that generates a picture signal (video signal).  
     [0023] The device main body  2  which is connected at the proximal end of the insert portion  3  comprises the light source  12  for supplying illumination light to the light guide  11 , and the CCU  16  which is electrically connected to the solid-state image pickup element  14  by means of the signal lines  15  as described above. In addition, the device main body  2  houses an A/D converter  17  that converts the video signal outputted by the CCU  16  into a digital video signal, and a power supply  26  for supplying electric power to the light source  12  and the like. Further, a connector portion  5   b  of the PDA  4  is detachably connected to a connector portion  5   a  of the device main body  2 .  
     [0024] The PDA  4  houses a busline  18 , and, connected to this busline  18 , are: a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  19  for performing control, a ROM (Read Only Memory)  20  that stores programs which can be controlled by the CPU  19 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  21  which is used by the CPU  19  as a work region, and so forth, a display RAM  6 , a memory card  23  for recording image data, and an I/O interface  24 . An operating button  25  is connected to the I/O interface (abbreviated to ‘IO/IF’ in the drawings)  24 .  
     [0025] The busline  18  is also connected to the A/D converter  17  of the device main body  2  via connector portions  5   b  and  5   a .  
     [0026] Furthermore, a monitor  34  in the form of a liquid crystal display and the like is connected to the display RAM  6 . The CPU  19  writes output image data to the display RAM  6 . The image data written to the display RAM  6  is always transmitted to the monitor  34  so as to be displayed thereby.  
     [0027] Further, the cell  7  housed in the PDA  4  supplies operational electric power to each of the parts in the PDA  4 , and is also connected to the power supply  26  in the device main body  2  via the connector portions  5   b  and  5   a . The cell  7  of the PDA  4  is thus supplied with electrical energy (that is, recharged) by the power supply  26  in the device main body  2 .  
     [0028] One PDA  4  is constituted by the parts of the endoscope device  1  of this constitution except the insert portion  3 , the light source  12 , the CCU  16 , and the device main body  2  that houses the A/D converter  17  and the power supply  26 , and even the monitor  34  is contained as a part of the PDA  4 .  
     [0029] The first function of the CPU  19  of the PDA  4  is to read I/O image data on the busline  18  and to transmit this data as output image data on the busline  18  as is. Further, the device main body  2  is provided with the operating button  25  such that when an operator operates the operating button  25 , the operating signal is read from the I/O interface  24  to the CPU  19  via the busline  18 .  
     [0030] For example, when the image record operation of the operating button  25  is executed, the CPU  19  performs a second function, namely that of writing the I/O image data to a predetermined region of the memory card  23 . At the time of the image record operation, observed images are accordingly recorded successively on the memory card  23 . The memory card  23  is freely detachable from the device main body  2 , and permits data removal and storage, and reading of image data when connected to a personal computer or the like.  
     [0031] When the image playback operation is performed, the CPU  19  performs a third function, namely that of reading image data selected from a plurality of image data recorded on the memory card  23  and displaying this image data on the monitor  34 .  
     [0032] In this case, for example, a plurality of image data which are recorded on the memory card  23  may be read out and reduced so as to create an overall single image (thumbnail images). Here, the CPU  19  transmits these thumbnail images as output image data. The thumbnail images shown in FIG. 4 (images  1  to  12  in FIG. 4) are displayed on the monitor  43 . Next, when an image selection operation is performed by means of the operating button  25 , the CPU  19  transmits the selected single image data as is. The selected image is then displayed on the monitor  34 .  
     [0033] The functions of the CPU  19  are performed in accordance with programs which are pre-recorded on the ROM  20  as described above. Further, the RAM  21  is used as a work region for executing these functions.  
     [0034]FIG. 2 shows the schematic external appearance shape of FIG. 1.  
     [0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope insert portion  3  extends from the box-shaped device main body  2 , a substantially rectangular receiving groove  41  is formed on the upper face, for example, of the device main body  2 , and the connector portion  5   b  is provided in the innermost section of the receiving groove  41 , for example.  
     [0036] Further, due to the PDA  4 , which is provided with the connector portion  5   a , being received by the receiving groove  41  so as to mate with the back portion thereof which is substantially rectangular, for example, the PDA  4  can be mechanically secured to the device main body  2  and also electrically connected thereto by attaching the connector portion  5   a  to the connector portion  5   b.    
     [0037] The section of the monitor  34  constituted by a liquid crystal display and the operating button  25  in a section below the monitor  34  are formed on the upper face of the PDA  4 . By operating the operating button  25 , the above-described image record operation and recorded image playback operation, and so forth, may be performed.  
     [0038] Also, a power supply switch  42  is provided on a side of the PDA  4 , and when this power supply switch  42  is mounted in the receiving groove  41 , the power supply switch  42  can be set to an ON state by means of a protrusion or the like (not shown) provided on the wall face of the receiving groove  41  of the device main body  2 .  
     [0039] Further, a power supply switch  43 , which performs an ON/OFF operation in cooperation with the power supply of the device main body  2  and the PDA  4 , is provided on the upper face or the like of the device main body  2 . Due to this power supply switch  43 , the light source  12  and the CCU  16  of the device main body  2 , and the CPU  19  of the PDA  4 , and the like, can enter an operational state, and the supply of electric power can be interrupted.  
     [0040] The endoscope device  1  of this embodiment with this constitution is characterized by being constituted by the insert portion  3 , which performs endoscope examinations, by the device main body  2 , which is connected to the insert portion  3  and houses the light source  12 , the CCU  16 , and the A/D converter  17 , and by the general-purpose PDA  4 , which is attached freely detachably to the device main body  2  and comprises image recording means and image display means.  
     [0041] Further, in addition to the program data for operation performed by the PDA  4  alone, another program data is written in the ROM  20  of the PDA  4 , that program data allows the PDA  4  to function as the endoscope device  1  when the PDA  4  is mounted on the device main body  2 .  
     [0042] In other words, application programs are installed on the PDA  4  so that a variety of applications such as memo software, schedule management software, and mail software run on the PDA basic operating system. However, programs are installed such that when the PDA  4  is also connected to the device main body  2 , the CPU  19  performs a control operation to capture input image data outputted from the A/D converter  17  of the device main body  2  and to store this input image data in the display RAM  6 , as well as an image record control operation in a case where the image record instruction button of the operating button  25  is operated, and an image playback control operation in a case where the image playback instruction button is operated.  
     [0043] Also, when an instruction button for image recording and the like is not provided on the PDA  4  in a unit, a program, which serves to allocate operating button functions so as to specify the operation of a specified button or a plurality of buttons as an instruction button for image recording or the like, is also installed.  
     [0044] The action of this embodiment with this constitution will now be described.  
     [0045] As shown in FIG. 2, according to this embodiment, the PDA  4  can be mounted on the device main body  2  by inserting the PDA  4  in the receiving groove  41  of the device main body  2 . Further, the PDA  4  can be set to a state permitting an endoscope examination to be conducted by turning ON the power supply switch  43 .  
     [0046] Accordingly, by inserting the endoscope insert portion  3  in an internal part of a plant, or the like, a photographic subject such as a plant internal part into which the insert portion  3  is inserted can be illuminated by the light source  12 , and an image of the photographic subject thus illuminated is formed on the solid-state image pickup element  14  by the objective lens  13  and then O/E converted by the solid-state image pickup element  14 .  
     [0047] The solid-state image pickup element  14  is driven by the CCU  16  in the device main body  2 , and the image pickup signal outputted from the solid-state image pickup element  14  is subjected to signal processing, whereby a video signal is generated, then converted into a digital video signal by the A/D converter  17  and transmitted to the PDA  4  via the connector portions  5   a  and  5   b.    
     [0048] In the PDA  4 , the CPU  19  performs control such that the digital video signal inputted via the busline  18  from the A/D converter  17  side, that is, the input image data is written to the display RAM  6 .  
     [0049] Further, the image data written to the display RAM  6  is continuously read out and outputted to the monitor  34  so that the image picked up by the image pickup element  14  is displayed on the display screen.  
     [0050] Further, as a result of the operator operating the operating button  25 , an operating signal is read from the I/O interface  24  to the CPU  19  via the busline  18 . For example, when the image record operation of the operating button  25  is performed, the CPU  19  writes I/O image data to a predetermined region of the memory card  23 . At the time of the image record operation, observed images are accordingly recorded successively on the memory card  23 . The memory card  23  is detachable from the PDA  4 , and permits data removal and storage, and reading of image data when connected to a personal computer or the like.  
     [0051] In addition, when the image playback operation is performed, the CPU  19  reads out and plays back image data recorded on the memory card  23 . In the case of image playback, the following variety of methods may be adopted, for example. First, the CPU  19  reads out a plurality of image data recorded on the memory card  23  and reduces this image data to create an overall single image (thumbnail images). The CPU  19  transmits these thumbnail images as output image data. The thumbnail images shown in FIG. 4 are displayed on the monitor. Next, when an image selection operation is performed by means of the operating button  25 , the CPU  19  transmits the selected single image data as is. The selected image is then displayed on the monitor  34 .  
     [0052] According to the present embodiment with this constitution and action, because the image recording means and image display means are constituted by a general-purpose PDA  4 , manufacturing costs for the endoscope device  1  can be markedly reduced.  
     [0053] In other words, the PDA  4  can be produced at an unusually low price by means of mass production and therefore the development costs and product unit price and so forth can be markedly reduced.  
     [0054] Further, where the PDA  4  is concerned, the degree of integration of the internal parts for mass production is unusually high, and these parts can be reduced in size and made more lightweight. Therefore, the device main body part  2  can also be reduced in size and made more lightweight, and hence, it is possible to facilitate the endoscope examination by carrying it around and to make endoscope examinations straightforward also for examination target equipment and so forth in other fields.  
     [0055] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by attaching a communication card (not shown) to the part PDA  4 , electronic mail and the Internet and the like can be utilized, recorded image data can be transmitted, and image data can be received.  
     [0056] Further, after an endoscope examination, the state of an examination target can be examined in detail by removing the part PDA  4  from the device main body  2  and playing back the images recorded by the PDA  4 , and so forth. When the PDA  4  is connected to a personal computer, the images can be enlarged further and easily checked in detail on a display screen with a higher resolution, and the like.  
     [0057] Further, according to the present embodiment, a case of a PDA  4  that comprises the memory card  23  is shown. However, in the case of a PDA  4  that does not comprise the memory card  23 , image data could be recorded on the RAM  21 .  
     [0058] Further, according to the present embodiment, the PDA  4  is constituted so as to be detachable but a structure in which the PDA  4  is integrally incorporated in the device main body  2  is also possible. In this case also, the PDA  4  can be miniaturized, made more lightweight, and reduced in cost.  
     [0059]FIG. 3 shows the schematic constitution of an endoscope device  1 B of a modified example. According to the endoscope device  1 B, a device main body  2 B connected to the insert portion  3  is constituted so as to be connected to a PDA  4 B by means of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable  46 , for example.  
     [0060] In this case, the device main body  2 B is constituted such that, in the device main body  2  of FIG. 1, the A/D converter  17  is connected to a USB connector via a USB interface, and the PDA  4 B is also constituted such that, in the PDA  4  of FIG. 1, there is a connection to a USB connector via a USB interface. Also, the endoscope device  1 B is formed by connecting the USB cable  46  to the USB connectors.  
     [0061] Further, in a case where the PDA  4 B is employed as the endoscope device  1 B by connecting the device main body  2 B and the USB cable  46 , the USB cable  46 , and so forth, is connected beforehand to install a program in the PDA  4 B to enable it function as the endoscope device  1 B.  
     [0062] In this case, the ROM  20  for storing the programs in the PDA  4 B is constituted by a flash memory or EEPROM that permits simple electrical rewriting and that possesses nonvolatile characteristics. Further, depending on requirements, functional changes and program upgrades can also be easily implemented.  
     [0063] Otherwise, the constitution is the same as that for the first embodiment. Where the present modified example is concerned, as long as a PDA comprises a USB connector, even a PDA whose shape and functions and the like differ can be employed as the PDA  4 B that constitutes the endoscope device  1 B.  
     [0064] Therefore, in this case, the user is able to use a PDA  4 B which is considered by the user to be easy to use, or a PDA  4 B which the user is accustomed to using, by connecting the PDA  4 B to the device main body  2 B via the USB cable  46 , whereby operability can be improved.  
     [0065] Further, in a case where the insert portion  3  is provided with a bending portion as described in the next embodiment, an operation section that bends this bending portion may be provided on the device main body  2  or the device main body  2 B.  
     [0066] (Second Embodiment)  
     [0067] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described next with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the whole constitution of an endoscope device  1 C of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows an external appearance thereof in an application example.  
     [0068] The endoscope device  1 C shown in FIG. 5 is constituted by an endoscope main body  51 , by a device main body  2 C which is connected to the endoscope main body  51  and which houses the light source  12  and the CCU  16 , and the like, and by a PDA  4 C which is mounted on the device main body  2 C so as to be capable of freely swinging.  
     [0069] The endoscope main body  51  comprises an elongated insert portion  52  that is flexible; an operation section  53  provided at the back end of the insert portion  52 , and a universal cable  54  that extends from the operation section  53 , wherein a connector  55  at the back end of the universal cable  54  is freely detachably connected to the device main body  2 C.  
     [0070] The insert portion  52  comprises a hard distal end portion  56  provided at the distal end thereof, a bendable bending portion  57  provided at the back end of the distal end portion  56 , and a flexible portion  58  that is long and flexible extending from the back end of the bending portion  57  to the operation section  53 .  
     [0071] The light guide  11  passes through the inside of the insert portion  52  as described above. The back end of the light guide  11  is passed through by the operation section  53  and the universal cable  54  and thus protrude from the connector  55 , and is then connected to the device main body  2 C. As a result, the illumination light of a lamp  59  that constitutes the light source  12  is condensed by a condensing lens and supplied to the end portion of the light guide  11 .  
     [0072] Further, the objective lens  13  and the solid-state image pickup element  14  disposed at the image formation position of the objective lens  13  are provided in the distal end portion  56  of the insert portion. The solid-state image pickup element  14  is connected to the connection point of the connector  55  via signal cables  15  that pass through the inside of the insert portion  52 , the operation section  53 , and the universal cable  54 . By connecting the connector  55  to the device main body  2 C, the solid-state image pickup element  14  is electrically connected to the CCU  16 .  
     [0073] Further, a pair of wires  61  for transmitting the drive power for bending the bending portion  57  which is formed by linking a plurality of bending pieces such that same are capable of freely swinging passes through the insert portion  52 . The distal ends of this pair of wires  61  are secured to the distal end portion  56 , and the back ends of these wires are fixed so as to be wound around a pulley  62  within the operation section  53 .  
     [0074] The rotating shaft of an electric bending motor  63  is attached to the central axis of the pulley  62 , and the rotation of the motor  63  causes one of the pair of wires  61  to be pulled, while the other is relaxed, such that the bending portion  57  can be bent toward the pulled side.  
     [0075] The rotation of the motor  63  is controlled by a motor control circuit  64  provided in the operation section  53 , for example. Also, the motor control circuit  64  is connected to a joystick  66  that constitutes bending operation means which are provided so as to extend from the operation section  53 . The motor control circuit  64  controls the rotation of the motor  63  to the direction in which the joystick  66  is inclined.  
     [0076] Further, FIG. 5 shows the pair of wires  61  and one motor  63  only. However, the bending portion  57  can be bent in an optional direction such as upward and downward, left and right, and so forth, by using two pairs of wires and two motors.  
     [0077] Also, the motor  63  is housed within a motor box  65  that protrudes from an operation section  53  as shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0078] Further, the motor control circuit  64  is constituted such that operational electric power is supplied from the power supply  26  of the device main body  2 C via power supply lines.  
     [0079] In the device main body  2 C, a USB interface  66  is connected to the A/D converter  17  that is connected to the CCU  16 , and the USB interface  66  is connected to a USB connector  67  whose connection point is exposed at the outer face of the device main body  2 C.  
     [0080] Further, in the PDA  4  of FIG. 1, the PDA  4 C further comprises a USB interface  68  which is connected to the busline  18 . The USB interface  68  is connected to a USB connector  69  whose connection point is exposed at the outer face of the PDA  4 C.  
     [0081] Also, the USB connectors  67  and  69  can be connected by a USB cable  70 . Further, a hinge  71  that is capable of freely swinging is mounted on one side part of the device main body  2 C and to one side part of the PDA  4 C, whereby the PDA  4 C is mounted so as to be capable of freely swinging with respect to the device main body  2 C.  
     [0082] In this case, the surface of the PDA  4 C in which the monitor  34  is provided is thus capable of freely swinging so as to face the upper face of the device main body  2 C.  
     [0083] Further, the USB interface  68  is also connected to the cell  7  so that the cell  7  can also be recharged.  
     [0084] As described in FIG. 3, a program is pre-installed on the PDA  4 C so as to function as the endoscope device  1 C when connected to the device main body  2 C.  
     [0085] An application example of the present embodiment with this constitution is shown in FIG. 5. A shoulder belt  72  is attached to the device main body  2 C, and the user is thus able to hold the device main body  2 C by putting the belt  72  on his or her shoulder.  
     [0086] Further, when an examination hole  73  is provided in a wall part, by grasping the operation section  53  of the endoscope main body  51  with one hand and holding the insert portion  52  with the other hand, the user performing the endoscope examination inserts the distal end of the insert portion into the examination hole  73 .  
     [0087] Furthermore, at the time of the insertion, in cases where an internal part is to be observed or examined, the monitor  34  of the PDA  4 C can then be brought into view by freely swinging the PDA  4 C, which is attached to the device main body  2 C so as to be capable of freely swinging, by means of the hinge  71 .  
     [0088] Further, the status of the internal part can be observed or examined by observing the image on the monitor  34 . Also, when the insert portion is in the process of being inserted in a deep section, in cases where the internal part is bent as observed via the observed image, the insert portion can be inserted smoothly by operating the joystick  66  with the finger of the hand grasping the operation section  53  such that the insert portion is made to bend in the direction of the bend.  
     [0089] With this embodiment too, results like those for the first embodiment may be obtained. Furthermore, operability can be improved because a bending operation can be performed by the hand grasping the operation section.  
     [0090]FIG. 7 shows a device main body  2 D of a modified example.  
     [0091] In the device main body  2 C of FIG. 5, the device main body  2 D of this modified example further comprises a second operating button  76 , and a second I/O interface  77  which is connected to the second operating button  76 , the second I/O interface  77  being connected to the USB interface  66 .  
     [0092] Further, image record and playback operations or other operations may be performed by means of the operating button  25  of the PDA  4 C, and image record and playback operations and so forth may also be performed by operating the second operating button  76  of the device main body  2 D, whereby operability is improved.  
     [0093] Otherwise, the constitution is the same as that for the second embodiment. Because this modified example permits image recording and so forth by both the PDA  4 C and also the device main body  2 D, the user is able to perform a straightforward operation by using either one.  
     [0094] Further, although, in this modified example, the device main body  2 D is provided with the second operating button  76 , this second operating button  76  may be provided on the operation section  53  of the endoscope main body  51 . The second operating button  76  may be provided on the end of a cable extending from the device main body  2 D, and a freeze button for issuing an instruction to display a still image may be provided on the operating button  25  or the second operating button  76 .  
     [0095] (Third Embodiment)  
     [0096]FIG. 8 shows an endoscope device  1 E according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope device  1 E is constituted by a device main body  2 E, the insert portion  3  that extends from the device main body  2 E, a PDA  4 E which is connected to the device main body  2 E via a serial cable such as an RS232C (standard name of the Electrical Industry Association) cable  81  for example, and by an infrared light emission device  83  which is connected to the device main body  2 E by means of a signal cable  82 .  
     [0097] In the device main body  2 B of FIG. 4, the device main body  2 E contains an RS232C interface instead of the USB interface connected to the USB cable  46 , and is constituted such that the built-in power supply  26  supplies electric power for light emission to the infrared light emission device  83  via a power supply cable  82 .  
     [0098] Furthermore, in the PDA  4 B of FIG. 3, the PDA  4 E contains an RS232C interface instead of the USB interface connected to the USB cable  46 , and contains an infrared receiving device.  
     [0099] The infrared receiving device comprises an infrared receiving window portion  84  in a side of the PDA  4 E, for example, and further comprises a receiving device such as a receiving photodiode which is sensitive to infrared waves and is on the inside of a filter, that allows only infrared waves to pass, which is provided in the infrared receiving window portion  84 , and comprises a wave shaping section for shaping a signal which has been O/E converted by the receiving device. The infrared receiving device sends the signal which has been thus shaped by the wave shaping section to the CPU  19 , and, in accordance with this signal, the CPU  19  then performs image recording and an operation to playback a recorded image on the monitor  34 .  
     [0100] Meanwhile, the infrared light emission device  83  contains an infrared light emitting diode  85  that emits infrared rays to the distal end side of a tubular body having a light blocking effect, for example, and infrared rays emitted by the infrared light emitting diode  85  pass through a filter which allows only infrared rays to pass and which is provided in an infrared emitting window portion  86 , so that infrared rays can be emitted to the outside.  
     [0101] Further, the power supply cable  82  which is connected to the power supply  26  is provided with a switch portion  87  in series with the infrared light emitting diode  85 . The switch portion  87  is provided with at least two or more plural switches (here, the two switches are SWI and SW 2 , for example), and the infrared light emitting diode  85  emits light with a light emission waveform that corresponds with the switch which is pushed.  
     [0102] In a state where the infrared emitting window portion  86  is made to face the infrared receiving window portion  84 , when the switch SW 1  is depressed, for example, the CPU  19  judges that an image record instruction signal is present and performs an image record operation.  
     [0103] Also, when the switch SW 2  is depressed, the CPU  19  judges that an image playback instruction signal is present and performs an operation to play back an image recorded on the memory card  23 .  
     [0104] According to the present embodiment, even in a case where the PDA  4 E is disposed in a location separate from the device main body  2 E, by grasping the infrared emission device  83  and operating the switch portion  87 , an image record instruction and image playback instruction and so forth can be sent to the PDA  4 E, and a remote instruction operation can be performed so as to execute an operation corresponding to the instruction operation carried out by the PDA  4 E.  
     [0105] In addition, in this specification, a general-purpose personal digital assistant is described in terms of a PDA denoted by the reference numeral  4  and so forth. However, the general-purpose personal digital assistant is not limited to a PDA and is intended to refer to all small information terminal devices created based on the premise of handheld usage which are called Pocket PCs, Palm PCs, Handheld PCs, mobile PCs and so forth, for example.  
     [0106] Moreover, embodiments including those constituted through partial incorporation of the above-described embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0107] Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention by referring to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and various changes and modifications thereof could be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.