Patent ID: 7811227

Claim:
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope that includes an information storage section including an endoscope information memory in which information concerning the endoscope is stored and a first controller controlling readout of the information stored in the endoscope information memory; a signal processing unit to which the endoscope is detachably connected and which includes a second controller issuing at least an instruction for a readout operation of the information to the information storage section; a communication unit through which data is transmitted and received between the first controller and the second controller; a communication speed setting unit setting the communication speed of the communication unit to a higher communication speed allowable in the first controller; and a switching unit switching the communication speed on the basis of a result produced in the communication speed setting unit, wherein the second controller transmits to the first controller a command to switch the communication speed to the higher communication speed and to set the higher communication speed on the basis of information concerning the higher communication speed allowable in the first controller, the information being stored in the endoscope information memory.