Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device

Abstract

A device and method for for example operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination is operated at a certain rate or range of rates, and images are transmitted from the device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 551,053, filed Sep. 23, 2005, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Light Control in an In-Vivo Imaging Device”, which is a national phase application of International Application PCT / IL2004 / 000265, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Light Control in an In-Vivo Imaging Device” filed on Mar. 23, 2004, which in turn claims priority from Israel patent application 155046, filed on Mar. 23, 2003, and in addition is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 202,608, filed Jul. 25, 2002, which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 307,603, filed Jul. 26, 2001, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entiretyBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Devices and methods for performing in-vivo imaging of passages or cavities within a body are known in the art. Such devices may include, inter alia, various endoscopic imaging systems and devices ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Some embodiments of the present invention include a device and method for operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination produced by the device may be varied in intensity and / or duration according to, for example, the amount of illumination produced by the device, which is reflected back to the device. In such a manner, the illumination can be controlled and made more efficient.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method for implementing light control in an in vivo device is provided. Accordingly, the parameters such as exposure time and / or the gain factor, or other parameters, for transmitting the recorded light may be altered. For example, the gain factor may be altered as a function of a light saturation level measured at at least one interval within the frame exposure period. In such a manner the in vivo device can prevent cases of over and under exposure, in addition to helping to ensure that exposure ceases after full exposure is attained.

Problems solved by technology

One of the limitations of electronic imaging sensors is that they may have a limited dynamic range.

Thus, when the imaged field of view includes both dark and bright parts or imaged objects, the limited dynamic range of the imaging sensor may result in underexposure of the dark parts of the field of view, or overexposure of the bright parts of the field of view, or both.

Therefore, methods of controlling the illumination based on analysis of data or measurement results of previous frames may not be always feasible, particularly at low frame rates.

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