Patent ID: 8125515

Claim:
An endoscope system, comprising: a plurality of processor devices, each having a detachably attached endoscope; and a controller, which is communicably connected with the plurality of processor devices, wherein the controller is configured to output at least one of an activating signal to activate at least one of the processor devices and an inactivating signal to inactivate at least one of the processor devices, to the at least one of the processor devices; and wherein each of the plurality of processor devices comprises: a first power supply that supplies the processor device with activating power; a power supply controller, which is driven by preparatory power and that switches on the first power supply according to the activating signal and switches off the first power supply according to the inactivating signal, the power supply controller further controlling the endoscope; and a second power supply that supplies the preparatory power to the power supply controller, the preparatory power being only as much power as necessary to activate the processor device, wherein the power supply controller does not turn the second power supply on and off, wherein the first power supply, the second power supply and the power supply controller are integrated into the processor device, wherein the controller includes an input terminal that receives an operator's power-on input, upon receiving the operator's power-on input, the controller transmits detecting signals for detecting power status of the first power supply of the at least one of the processor devices to the power supply controller of each of the at least one of the processor devices, and receives power status signals, indicating the power status of the first power supply, transmitted from the power supply controller, upon receiving a power status signal from one of the plurality of processor devices, the controller determines whether or not the power status signal is a power-off signal, indicating that the first power supply is not currently supplying power to the processor device, and transmits the activation signal to the processor device, upon determining that the power-off signal is received, wherein after receiving the operator's power-on input, the controller automatically performs the transmission of detecting signals, the reception of the power status signals, and transmission of the activation signal in sequence without the operator's intervention.