Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus where a CMOS imaging element which takes an endoscope image is used at the distal end of an endoscope insertion portion. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Examination using an endoscope apparatus, for example, an electronic endoscope has been quite popular in the medical field. In the electronic endoscope, an image sensor such as a CCD sensor and a CMOS sensor is mounted at the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject, and is connected to a processor apparatus (a signal processing apparatus) through a cord or a connector. The processor apparatus performs various processing on an imaging signal obtained from the image sensor, and generates an endoscope image for use in diagnosis. The endoscope image is displayed on a monitor connected to the processor apparatus. 
     CCD sensors have been generally used as the image sensor provided at the endoscope insertion portion. However, the use of CMOS sensors has been considered recently (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-201540). The CMOS sensors are different from the CCD sensors, and can be formed as a CMOS imaging element by a general CMOS manufacturing process on the same chip as peripheral circuits such as a signal processing circuit, a timing generator, an A/D converter, and a communication interface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an endoscope apparatus using a CCD sensor, peripheral circuits of the CCD sensor are arranged on a relay board of an operation portion apart from the CCD sensor provided at the distal end of an endoscope insertion portion, and a processor apparatus transmits and receives signals to and from the relay board. An imaging signal from the CCD sensor is transmitted as an analog signal to the relay board. Meanwhile, in an endoscope using the CMOS imaging element as described above, an imaging signal converted into a digital signal is directly transmitted between the CMOS imaging element at the distal end of an endoscope insertion portion and a processor apparatus or a relay board, and a control signal is directly transmitted and received therebetween through serial communication. 
     Thus, the quality of a communication channel for the imaging signal or the control signal, the malfunction of the CMOS imaging element and the like become a problem in the endoscope using the CMOS imaging element. Particularly, the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion is easily affected by electrical noise when observation is performed together with APC (Argon Plasma Coagulation), or when an electrical treatment instrument is used. The CMOS imaging element may be thereby out of control, so that an endoscope image cannot be obtained. 
     To avoid such a state, power supply to the CMOS imaging element may be temporarily turned OFF to restore the CMOS imaging element to an initial state. However, once the CMOS imaging element is turned OFF, it takes too long before the CMOS imaging element is operational after being turned ON. Thus, it is preferable that the CMOS imaging element can be restored as quickly as possible. 
     The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus where a CMOS imaging element which takes an endoscope image is provided at the distal end of an endoscope insertion portion, the method capable of restoring the CMOS imaging element to a normal state as quickly as possible when the CMOS imaging element is out of control. 
     In order to achieve the above object, a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus where a CMOS imaging element which takes an endoscope image is provided at a distal end of an insertion portion, the method restoring the CMOS imaging element to a normal state when the CMOS imaging element is out of control, including: a first reset step of executing soft reset to initialize a register of the CMOS imaging element; a second reset step of executing device reset to initialize a signal processing section of the CMOS imaging element when the CMOS imaging element is not restored to a normal state by the first reset step; and a third reset step of temporarily stopping power supply to the CMOS imaging element and restarting the power supply when the CMOS imaging element is not restored to a normal state by the second reset step. 
     According to the first aspect, when the CMOS imaging element is out of control, the soft reset and the device reset which partially initialize the CMOS imaging element are sequentially performed before the CMOS imaging element is reset by stopping the power supply where it takes long before the CMOS imaging element is restored. Thus, when the CMOS imaging element is restored to a normal state by one of the reset steps, the time to restore the CMOS imaging element can be substantially reduced. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and the first reset step is executed by a control signal given from the processor apparatus or a control circuit in the endoscope apparatus to a serial communication terminal of the CMOS imaging element. 
     According to the second aspect, the soft reset in the first reset step is performed by initializing the register based on the control signal given from the processor apparatus or the control circuit in the endoscope apparatus through serial communication. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first or second aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and the second reset step is executed by a reset signal given from the processor apparatus or a control circuit in the endoscope apparatus to a device reset terminal of the CMOS imaging element. 
     According to the third aspect, the device reset in the second reset step is performed by giving a predetermined reset signal to the device reset terminal of the CMOS imaging element from the processor apparatus or the control circuit in the endoscope apparatus. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first, second or third aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and the third reset step is executed by temporarily stopping power supply from the processor apparatus or a control circuit in the endoscope apparatus to a power terminal of the CMOS imaging element. 
     According to the fourth aspect, the power supply stop and restart in the third reset step is performed by temporarily stopping the power supply to the power terminal of the CMOS imaging element from the processor apparatus or the control circuit in the endoscope apparatus. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state is determined based on whether or not there is a response from the CMOS imaging element to a control signal transmitted from the processor apparatus or a control circuit in the endoscope apparatus to a serial communication terminal of the CMOS imaging element. 
     According to the fifth aspect, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state, that is, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is out of control is determined based on the serial communication between the CMOS imaging element and the processor apparatus or the control circuit in the endoscope apparatus. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state is determined by including additional information indicating an operation state of the CMOS imaging element in the imaging signal in the CMOS imaging element and reading out the additional information by the processor apparatus. 
     According to the sixth aspect, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state, that is, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is out of control is determined based on the additional information contained in the imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element to the processor apparatus. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the endoscope apparatus is connected to a processor apparatus which processes an imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element and displays an endoscope image on a monitor, and whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state is determined in the processor apparatus, based on a change in the endoscope image by the imaging signal. 
     According to the seventh aspect, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is in a normal state, that is, whether or not the CMOS imaging element is out of control is determined based on the change in the endoscope image by the imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element to the processor apparatus. 
     The method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the device reset in the second reset step can be disabled. 
     According to the eighth aspect, a failure that the device reset is unintentionally executed due to electrical noise or the like can be prevented. 
     In the present invention, when the CMOS imaging element is out of control in the endoscope apparatus where the CMOS imaging element which takes the endoscope image is provided at the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion, the CMOS imaging element can be restored to a normal state as quickly as possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an entire configuration diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an endoscope system; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view illustrating the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a control system of the endoscope system including an endoscope apparatus and a processor apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration section relating to reset of a CMOS imaging element; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, a preferred embodiment of a method for resetting a CMOS imaging element in an endoscope according to the present invention will be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an entire configuration diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an endoscope system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an endoscope system  10  according to the present embodiment includes an endoscope apparatus (an electronic endoscope, referred to as endoscope below)  12 , a processor apparatus  14 , and a light source apparatus  16 . The endoscope  12  includes a flexible insertion portion  20  to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient (a subject), an operation portion  22  provided continuously to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion  20 , and a universal cord  24  connected to the processor apparatus  14  and the light source apparatus  16 . 
     A distal end portion  26  where a CMOS imaging element (an imaging chip)  54  which takes an image of the inside of a body cavity (see  FIG. 3 ) or the like is incorporated is provided continuously to the distal end of the insertion portion  20 . A bending portion  28  where a plurality of bending pieces are connected together is provided posterior to the distal end portion  26 . The bending portion  28  bends vertically and horizontally when an angle knob  30  provided on the operation portion  22  is operated to push and pull a wire inserted through the insertion portion  20 . The distal end portion  26  is thereby oriented in a desired direction in a body cavity. 
     The proximal end of the universal cord  24  is connected to a connector  36 . The connector  36  is of composite type. The processor apparatus  14  is connected to the connector  36 , and the light source apparatus  16  is also connected thereto. 
     The processor apparatus  14  feeds power to the electronic endoscope  12  through a cable  68  (see  FIG. 3 ) inserted through the universal cord  24  to control the driving of the CMOS imaging element  54 . The processor apparatus  14  also receives an imaging signal transmitted from the CMOS imaging element  54  through the cable  68  and performs various signal processing on the received imaging signal to convert the signal into image data. The image data converted in the processor apparatus  14  is displayed as an endoscope image on a monitor  38  connected to the processor apparatus  14  through a cable. The processor apparatus  14  is also electrically connected to the light source apparatus  16  through the connector  36  to collectively control the operation of the endoscope system  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating the distal end portion  26  of the electronic endoscope  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , an observation window  40 , illumination windows  42 , a forceps outlet  44 , and an air/water supply nozzle  46  are provided in a distal end surface  26   a  of the distal end portion  26 . The observation window  40  is arranged in the center on one side of the distal end portion  26 . The illumination windows  42  are arranged at two positions symmetrical with respect to the observation window  40  to project illumination light from the light source apparatus  16  onto a region to be observed in a body cavity. The forceps outlet  44  is connected to a forceps channel  70  (see  FIG. 3 ) provided in the insertion portion  20  to communicate with a forceps inlet  34  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided in the operation portion  22 . Various treatment instruments where an injection needle, a diathermy knife or the like is provided at the distal end are inserted into the forceps inlet  34 , and the distal ends of various treatment instruments are exposed from the forceps outlet  44 . The air/water supply nozzle  46  sprays cleaning water or air supplied from an air/water supply device incorporated in the light source apparatus  16  to the observation window  40  or into a body cavity according to the operation of an air/water supply button  32  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided on the operation portion  22 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view illustrating the distal end portion  26  of the endoscope  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a lens barrel  52  which holds an objective optical system  50  for receiving image light of an observed region in a body cavity is provided posterior to the observation window  40 . The lens barrel  52  is mounted such that the optical axis of the objective optical system  50  is parallel to the center axis of the insertion portion  20 . A prism  56  which guides the image light of the observed region from the objective optical system  50  toward the imaging chip  54  by bending the image light at a substantially right angle is connected to the rear end of the lens barrel  52 . 
     The CMOS imaging element  54  is a monolithic semiconductor (a so-called CMOS sensor chip) where a CMOS sensor  58  and peripheral circuits which drive the CMOS sensor  58  and input and output a signal into and from the CMOS sensor  58  are integrally formed, and is mounted on a support substrate  62 . An imaging surface  58   a  of the CMOS sensor  58  is arranged facing an emission surface of the prism  56 . A cover glass  64  having a rectangular plate shape is attached onto the imaging surface  58   a  via a spacer  63  having a rectangular frame shape. The CMOS sensor  58 , the spacer  63 , and the cover glass  64  are bonded together with an adhesive. The imaging surface  58   a  is thereby protected from ingress of dust or the like. 
     A plurality of input-output terminals  62   a  are provided side by side in the width direction of the support substrate  62  which is extended toward the rear end of the insertion portion  20  in a rear end portion of the support substrate  62 . Signal lines  66  are bonded to the input-output terminals  62   a  to mediate an exchange of various signals between the input-output terminals  62   a  and the processor apparatus  14  through the universal cord  24 . The input-output terminals  62   a  are electrically connected to the peripheral circuits  60  inside the CMOS imaging element  54  through a wire or a bonding pad (not shown) formed on the support substrate  62 . The signal lines  66  are inserted in a bundle into the flexible tubular cable  68 . The cable  68  is inserted through the inside of each of the insertion portion  20 , the operation portion  22 , and the universal cord  24 , and connected to the connector  36 . 
     Although not shown in the drawings, an illumination portion is provided posterior to the illumination window  42 . An emission end of a light guide which guides the illumination light from the light source apparatus  16  is arranged at the illumination portion. The light guide is inserted through the inside of each of the insertion portion  20 , the operation portion  22 , and the universal cord  24 , and its incident end is connected to the connector  36  in a similar manner to the cable  68 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the endoscope  12  and the processor apparatus  14  in the above endoscope system  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the CMOS imaging element  54  where the CMOS sensor  58  and the peripheral circuits are formed on the same chip is incorporated in the distal end portion  26  of the endoscope  12  (the insertion portion  20 ). The peripheral circuits include an analog front end (AFE)  100 , a format conversion circuit  102 , a register  106 , a timing generator (TG)  104 , and an interface circuit  108 . 
     The CMOS sensor  58  includes a photodiode formed for each of pixels arranged in a matrix, a voltage conversion circuit which converts signal charges accumulated in the photodiode into a voltage signal, a scanning circuit (a vertical scanning circuit and a horizontal scanning circuit) which specifies the address (the position) of a pixel whose voltage signal is to be read out from the voltage conversion circuit, and an output circuit which sequentially outputs the voltage signals of the pixels read out by the scanning circuit. 
     The AFE  100  includes a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS), an automatic gain control circuit (AGC), and an analog/digital converter (A/D). The CDS performs correlated double sampling processing on an imaging signal including the pixel signals sequentially read out from the pixels of the CMOS sensor  58 , and eliminates reset noise and amplifier noise generated in the CMOS sensor  58 . The AGC amplifies the imaging signal from which noise has been eliminated by the CDS at a gain (an amplification factor) specified by the processor apparatus  14 . The A/D converts the imaging signal amplified by the AGC into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits and outputs the digital signal. The format conversion circuit  102  converts the imaging signal digitalized and output by the A/D (the digital imaging signal) into a signal of a predetermined format determined in relation to the processor apparatus  14 , and the signal is thereby transmitted to the processor apparatus  14 . 
     The timing generator (TG)  104  generates a drive pulse for reading out the pixel signal from the CMOS sensor  58 , and a synchronizing pulse for each section such as the AFE  100 . 
     The register  106  is a memory which stores a parameter that determines the processing content of each section in the CMOS imaging element  54 , and each section is processed according to the parameter. 
     The interface circuit  108  inputs a control signal (a command) which sets the processing content of each section of the CMOS imaging element  54 , a basic clock or the like from outside the CMOS imaging element  54 , and outputs information of the parameter or the like set in the register  106  to outside. When a command is input to the interface circuit  108 , a parameter is set in the register  106  according to the command. The basic clock is given to the TG  104 , and the pulse to be fed to each section is produced based thereon. 
     Although not always provided, a relay board  110  is mounted on the operation portion  22  of the endoscope  12 . The relay board  110  includes a CPU  112  when a switch for electrical processing or the like is provided on the operation portion  22  or when zoom control or focus control of the objective optical system  50  (see  FIG. 3 ) which forms an image of an object is performed on the CMOS sensor  58 . The CPU  112  detects the state of the switch, and the objective optical system  50  is controlled by the CPU  112  and an unillustrated drive circuit. The CPU  112  is connected to a CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  via an unillustrated interface circuit. Information of the switch state relating to processing performed in the processor apparatus  14  is thereby transmitted to the CPU  200 , and the CPU  200  executes the processing based on the switch state. 
     The processor apparatus  14  includes the CPU  200 , an image processing circuit  208 , and a display control circuit  210 . The CPU  200  collectively controls the operation of each section in the processor apparatus  14 , and also exchanges various signals with the endoscope  12  as described above. For example, the CPU  200  gives the control signal or the basic clock to the CMOS imaging element  54 , and acquires the control information from the CMOS imaging element  54 . 
     The image processing circuit  208  is shown in a simplified manner as a single circuit which performs image processing in the processor apparatus  14  such as color separation, color interpolation, gain correction, white balance adjustment, gamma correction, edge enhancement processing, and brightness adjustment processing on the input imaging signal. Image data obtained by giving the image processing on the imaging signal input into the image processing circuit  208  is input into the display control circuit  210  at the subsequent stage. 
     The display control circuit  210  generates a video signal according to the display format of the monitor  38  from the image data input from the image processing circuit  208 , and outputs the video signal to the monitor  38 . The monitor  38  thereby displays an endoscope image taken by the CMOS imaging element  54 . 
     A power circuit  212  is a circuit which supplies power of a necessary voltage to each section of the processor apparatus  14 , and the CMOS imaging element  54  and the relay board  110  of the endoscope  12 . 
     The CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  may not be directly connected to the interface circuit  108  of the CMOS imaging element  54 , but the CPU  112  of the relay board  110  in the endoscope  12  may be connected thereto. Accordingly, the exchange of signals between the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  and the CMOS imaging element  54  may be performed via the CPU  112 , or the CPU  112  may control the CMOS imaging element  54 . Although reset control described below is entirely performed based on an instruction from the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14 , the control may be also partly or entirely performed by the CPU  112  (a control circuit) in the endoscope  12 , not the CPU  200 . 
     A method for resetting the CMOS imaging element  54  in the endoscope  12  of the endoscope system  10  having the aforementioned configuration will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a connection line between a configuration section relating to reset of the CMOS imaging element  54  and the processor apparatus  14 . In  FIG. 5 , a video processing section (a signal processing section)  300  representing the configuration section relating to the signal processing such as the AFE  100  and the format conversion circuit  102  in  FIG. 4 , the register  106  in  FIG. 4 , and a communication interface (a communication IF)  302  of the interface circuit  108  in  FIG. 4  which performs serial communication with the CPU  200  are shown in the CMOS imaging element  54 . A serial communication terminal  310 , a device reset terminal  312 , and a power terminal  314  are also provided as a chip terminal on the CMOS imaging element  54 . A serial communication line  320  which connects the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  and the serial communication terminal  310 , a device reset line  322  which connects the CPU  200  and the device reset terminal  312 , and a power supply line  324  which connects the power circuit  212  of the processor apparatus  14  and the power terminal  314  are also shown. 
     The register  106  is the memory which stores the value that determines the control content of the CMOS sensor  58  or the processing content of the video processing section  300  (VH width, shutter speed or the like) as described above. Each section of the CMOS imaging element  54  executes the processing according to the value in the register  106  by reference to the value in the register  106 . 
     The communication IF  302  is connected to the serial communication terminal  310  inside the CMOS imaging element  54 . When receiving a control signal (a command) from the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  through the serial communication line as described above, the communication IF  302  decodes the control signal and sets a set value according to the content of the control signal in the register  106 . The processing instructed by the control signal is thereby executed in each section such as the video processing section  300 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the resetting method when the CMOS imaging element  54  having the configuration as shown in  FIG. 5  is out of control. 
     For example, when the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  transmits a control signal to give a predetermined control instruction to the CMOS imaging element  54  through the serial communication line  320  as normal processing while the CMOS imaging element  54  is taking an image, the CPU  200  waits until a response signal indicating that the control signal has been received is transmitted from the CMOS imaging element  54 . In a case where the response signal is not transmitted after passage of a predetermined time period, the CPU  200  transmits the same control signal again and waits until the response signal is transmitted. The CPU  200  repeats the processing up to a predetermined number of times until the response signal is transmitted (step S 10 ). The processing is referred to as an operation state determining process of the CMOS imaging element  54 . 
     The CPU  200  determines whether the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state or in an abnormal state (out of control) based on whether or not the response signal is finally obtained from the CMOS imaging element  54  after performing the operation state determining process of the CMOS imaging element  54  (step S 12 ). When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state, the operation proceeds to normal processing (a normal process). 
     Meanwhile, when it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is out of control, the CPU  200  transmits a control signal to eliminate the control signals accumulated in the communication IF  302  since there is a possibility that an incorrect control signal has been given to the communication IF  302  due to noise on the serial communication line (step S 14 ). 
     The CPU  200  then executes the operation state determining process in a similar manner to steps S 10  and S 12  (step S 16 ) to determine whether or not the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state (step S 18 ). 
     When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state in step S 18 , the operation proceeds to the normal process. When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is out of control, the CPU  200  recognizes that there is a problem with the CMOS imaging element  54 , and sequentially performs the following processes to reset the CMOS imaging element  54 . 
     First, the CPU  200  executes soft reset where the CMOS imaging element  54  can be restored to a normal operation at high speed (step S 20 ). The soft reset is executed by transmitting a control signal to execute the soft reset through the serial communication line  320  from the CPU  200 . When the communication IF  302  receives the control signal, the data recorded in the register  106  is all initialized. The CPU  200  executes the operation state determining process in a similar manner to steps S 10  and S 12  (step S 22 ) to determine whether or not the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state (step S 24 ). When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state, the reset process is terminated, and the operation proceeds to the normal process. 
     When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is out of control in step S 24 , the CPU  200  subsequently executes device reset (step S 26 ). The device reset is performed by transmitting a predetermined reset signal (a pulse signal) to the device reset terminal  312  provided as the chip terminal on the CMOS imaging element  54  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The video processing section  300  is initialized by the device reset. The CPU  200  executes the operation state determining process in a similar manner to steps S 10  and S 12  (step S 28 ) to determine whether or not the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state (step S 30 ). When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is in a normal state, the reset process is terminated, and the operation proceeds to the normal process. 
     When it is determined that the CMOS imaging element  54  is out of control again in step S 30 , the CPU  200  recognizes that there is a problem with the entire CMOS imaging element  54 , and temporarily stops (OFF) power supply to the power terminal  314  of the CMOS imaging element  54  from the power circuit  212  through the power supply line  324 , and restarts (ON) the power supply after passage of a predetermined time period (step S 32 ). 
     When the power supply is temporarily stopped and restarted, the CMOS imaging element  54  is reliably restored to a normal state unless the CMOS imaging element  54  is broken. Thus, the operation proceeds to the normal process. 
     It is necessary to set the set value in the register  106  again after performing the reset process of any of the soft reset (step S 20 ), the device reset (step S 26 ), and the power supply stop and restart (step S 32 ). The register  106  may be set again after the CMOS imaging element  54  is determined to be in a normal state by each of the reset process and the operation proceeds to the normal process. Alternatively, the register  106  may be set again along with the operation state determining process by the control signal transmitted from the CPU  200  to the CMOS imaging element  54  when the operation state determining process is executed after the soft reset and the device reset. 
     The aforementioned method of the operation state determining process is just an example, and the CMOS imaging element  54  may be determined whether to be in a normal state or not by another method. For example, the imaging signal output from the CMOS imaging element  54  is a digital signal, and can contain desired additional information. Thus, the imaging signal may be allowed to contain information indicating the operation state of the CMOS imaging element  54  as the additional information, the processor apparatus  14  may extract the additional information from the imaging signal obtained from the CMOS imaging element  54 , and the CPU  200  may thereby determine whether or not the operation state of the CMOS imaging element  54  is normal based on the additional information. Alternatively, the CPU  200  may monitor a change in the endoscope image (a moving image) generated by the imaging signal obtained from the CMOS imaging element  54 , to determine whether or not the CMOS imaging element  54  is normal based on the change. For example, when there is no change in the endoscope image, the CMOS imaging element  54  can be determined to be not in a normal state. 
     Also, in the aforementioned embodiment, there is a possibility that noise occurs on the device reset line  322  connected to the device reset terminal  312  of the CMOS imaging element  54 , and the device reset is unintentionally executed. Thus, the device reset may be selectively enabled and disabled based on the set value of a predetermined address in the register  106  (a switch  330  of the register in  FIG. 5  corresponds thereto), so that the device reset may be enabled in an initial state after the power is turned ON, and may be switched to a disabled state by rewriting the set value in the register  106  by a control signal transmitted from the CPU  200  to the communication IF  302 . 
     The CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  may not be directly connected to the interface circuit  108  (the communication IF  302 ) of the CMOS imaging element  54 , but the control circuit in the endoscope  12  such as the CPU  112  of the relay board  110  in the endoscope  12  may be connected thereto as described above. Accordingly, the exchange of signals between the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  and the CMOS imaging element  54  may be performed via the control circuit in the endoscope  12 , or the control circuit in the endoscope  12  may control the CMOS imaging element  54 . In this case, the above reset control may be partly or entirely performed by the control circuit in the endoscope  12 , not the CPU  200 . Also, there is a case in which the start and stop of power supply to the CMOS imaging element  54  is controlled by the control circuit in the endoscope  12  in any of the cases in which the CPU  200  of the processor apparatus  14  is directly connected to the interface circuit  108  of the CMOS imaging element  54  and the control circuit in the endoscope is connected to the interface circuit  108  of the CMOS imaging element  54 . In this case, the control circuit in the endoscope  12  performs the control on the start and stop of power supply to the CMOS imaging element  54  in the procedure of the resetting method. Moreover, the CPU  112 , the relay board  110  and the control circuit described above may be provided at the position of the connector  36  or the like of the universal cord  24  of the endoscope  12 , and the present invention is not limited to the case where the CPU  112 , the relay board  110  and the control circuit are provided at the operation portion  22 .

Technology Category: a