Capsule Endoscope Receiver Synchronization Signal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capsule endoscope systems fail to accurately process image information due to external noise interference, leading to synchronization signal detection failures and resulting in defective images with noise, which overloads post-processing and hinders continuous display at a predetermined frame rate.

Innovation Solution

A receiving apparatus equipped with detectors for horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, an image processor, and a controller that deletes frames without detected synchronization signals, utilizing reproduction signals when necessary to maintain image quality and reduce post-processing load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the receiving apparatus processes all transmitted image data including noisy frames, then the quantity of processed images increases, but the image quality deteriorates due to noise and synchronization signal detection failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of processed imagesVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving apparatus performs preliminary detection of synchronization signals (horizontal and vertical) before completing the full image processing pipeline. This preliminary action identifies defective frames early, allowing the system to discard noisy images before they consume additional processing resources or storage capacity, thus maintaining image quality while managing quantity of processed images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and identifies defective frames by detecting the presence or absence of synchronization signals. By separating defective frames from the normal processing stream through this extraction mechanism, the system can selectively discard only the noisy images while continuing to process and store quality images, resolving the contradiction between processing quantity and quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the receiving apparatus performs extensive post-processing to remove noise, then the image quality improves, but the processing load increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtering by detecting synchronization signals before the main image processing pipeline. This preliminary action prevents noisy frames from entering the extensive post-processing stage, thereby maintaining image quality through selective processing while avoiding the excessive processing load that would result from applying noise removal algorithms to all frames

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the presence of synchronization signals into a beneficial filtering mechanism. By using the synchronization signal detection as a quality indicator, the system transforms what could be seen as an additional processing step into an efficient quality control mechanism that reduces overall processing load by eliminating defective frames early in the pipeline

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If the receiving apparatus stores all received images, then the quantity of stored images increases, but the storage capacity is exceeded due to inclusion of noisy frames

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of stored imagesVSAvoidstorage over-capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving apparatus performs preliminary quality assessment by detecting synchronization signals before storing images. This preliminary action identifies and discards defective frames that would otherwise consume valuable storage capacity, allowing the system to maintain a higher quantity of stored images within the same storage capacity while ensuring reliability through selective storage of only quality images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8345089B2Receiving apparatus and intra-subject information acquiring system

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

To acquire much accurate image information having no noise, without increasing load in the post-processing of the image information, a receiving apparatus 3 includes: a synchronization signal detector 34 that detects a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal; an image processor 35 that performs an image generation process of each frame based on the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal detected by the synchronization signal detector 34; and an image deletion controller 36a that controls to delete an image of the current frame, when a horizontal synchronization signal within one frame detected by the synchronization signal detector 34 is not continuously detected by a first predetermined number or more, or when a horizontal synchronization signal within one frame detected by the synchronization signal detector 34 is not continuously detected by a second predetermined number or more, or when a vertical synchronization signal detected by the synchronization signal detector 34 is not continuously detected by a third predetermined number or more.