PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely detect whether an insertion section tip end of an observation device is in the inside of an observation object or on the outside under any environment.SOLUTION: The observation device for observing the inside of an observation object includes: a light source 26 an insertion section 12 which has a light source light emission section 22 for emitting light from the light source in the vicinity of the tip end thereof, and which is inserted to the inside of the observation object an imaging member 24 which is provided in the vicinity of the tip end of the insertion section, and detects the light quantity of inputted visible light a decision means 30 which makes a decision regarding the tip end position of the insertion section and a control means 28 which controls the light source so as to generate, from the light source light emission section, an omission signal that has at least light of a prescribed wavelength region omitted in the visible light and is characteristic for the detection of the tip end position of the insertion section. The imaging member outputs detection information by performing a detection operation in the period in which the omission signal is emitted, and the decision section makes a decision regarding the tip end position of the insertion section based on the detection information.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】どのような環境下でも、観察装置の挿入部先端が、観察対象物内にあるか外部にあるかを確実に検出できるようにすること。【解決手段】観察対象物の内部を観察する観察装置を、光源26、その先端付近に光源からの光を射出する光源光射出部22を有し、観察対象物の内部に挿入される挿入部12、挿入部の先端付近に設けられた、入光する可視光の光量を検出する撮像部材24、挿入部の先端位置に関する判断を行う判断手段30、及び、光源光射出部より、挿入部の先端位置検出のために特徴的な、可視光の中で少なくとも所定の波長領域の光を欠落させた欠落信号を発信するように、光源を制御する制御手段28から構成し、撮像部材は、欠落信号が発信されている期間内に検出動作を行って検出情報を出力するようにし、判断手段は、その検出情報に基づいて、挿入部の先端位置に関する判断を行うようにする。【選択図】図1
