Capsule Camera Lighting Control for Exposure and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current swallowable capsule cameras for gastrointestinal tract imaging face challenges in maintaining optimal image exposure and power efficiency, leading to potential over-exposure or under-exposure issues and high power dissipation, which affects image quality and battery life.
Innovation Solution
A capsule camera with adjustable illumination control using sensor arrays, lighting elements, and a control unit that adjusts light intensity or duration based on pixel values to maintain optimal exposure across regions, incorporating a motion detection circuit to differentiate between active and monitor modes for power conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the lighting source operates continuously at high intensity to ensure adequate illumination for image capture, then image quality is improved, but power dissipation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic lighting control by continuously monitoring pixel values from sensor arrays and adjusting lighting intensity in real-time. The control unit modifies lighting parameters based on detected scene brightness, transitioning from static high-intensity illumination to adaptive dynamic illumination that matches actual lighting needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where sensor arrays continuously capture pixel values, the control unit analyzes these values to determine adequate illumination levels, and adjusts lighting source intensity accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures optimal image quality while minimizing power consumption by avoiding both over-illumination and under-illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If the lighting source intensity is increased to prevent under-exposure in all regions, then image exposure quality is improved, but regions closer to the camera become over-exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by dividing the field of view into multiple regions, each monitored by dedicated sensor arrays. The control unit independently adjusts lighting intensity for each region based on its specific pixel values, ensuring that distant regions receive sufficient illumination without causing over-exposure in nearer regions. This localized control enables non-uniform illumination patterns that match the spatial distribution of lighting needs.
3Ease of operation
If the capsule camera size is reduced to improve patient comfort and swallowing ease, then ease of operation is improved, but power capacity and image quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by using motion detection circuits to identify periods of capsule movement versus stationary periods. During stationary periods, full-power imaging can be used, while during movement periods, reduced-power imaging or motion-detection-only mode is employed. This temporal variation in power consumption allows smaller battery capacity while maintaining adequate operation throughout the examination period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting multiple system parameters including lighting intensity, sensor array activation, and imaging frequency based on detected conditions. The control unit modifies these parameters in real-time to optimize the balance between image quality, power consumption, and capsule size constraints, enabling smaller capsule design without sacrificing essential functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution improves image quality by preventing over-exposure or under-exposure and significantly reduces power dissipation, enabling a smaller, more efficient capsule camera that can capture detailed images while conserving battery life for extended use.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting element may be, for example, a light emitting diode
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensor arrays each having one or more pixels in one or more designated regions in a field of view of the capsule camera
Implementation Method 3
The control unit adjusts an amount of light provided by each lighting element, which may be given by integrating a light intensity of the lighting element over time
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a lighting source in a capsule camera improves image quality by avoiding over-exposure or under-exposure in all regions of an image, while concurrently reducing significantly power dissipation in the capsule camera. A capsule camera using the method includes: (1) one or more sensor arrays each having one or more pixels in one or more designated regions in the field of view of the capsule camera; (2) lighting elements each providing illumination to one or more of the designated regions; and (3) a control unit that (a) extracts a parameter value from the pixels of each region; (b) evaluates the parameter value at each region; and (c) adjusts the lighting elements providing illumination to each region according to the evaluation. The parameter value may be an average value of the pixels. The purpose of the adjustment is to bring the parameter value for the region to within a predetermined range. In one embodiment, the control unit adjusts an amount of light provided by each lighting element, which may be given by integrating a light intensity of the lighting element over time. In one implementation, the light intensity in each lighting element is substantially constant and the control unit adjusts an exposure time for each lighting element. The lighting element may be, for example, a light emitting diode.