Endoscope Autofocus Reliability Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autofocus control methods for endoscopes fail to perform necessary focus control in various scenes, such as when mist is produced during medical procedures, leading to unnatural focus control and reduced usability due to unnecessary or missed focus operations.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope apparatus with a processor that acquires motion information, determines global motion reliability, and performs focus operations based on frame images with high and low reliability, ensuring focus control is only applied when necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If autofocus control is performed based on motion information during medical procedures, then focus control responsiveness is improved, but unnecessary focus operations occur when mist is produced, reducing control accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reliability determination mechanism as an intermediary between motion information acquisition and focus control execution. The processor determines reliability of motion information by analyzing multiple frames and comparing motion vectors, acting as a filter that prevents unnecessary focus operations while maintaining responsive focus control when motion information is reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring motion information reliability and adjusting focus control decisions accordingly. The processor uses feedback from frame comparisons and motion vector analysis to determine whether motion information is reliable enough to trigger focus operations, creating a closed-loop control system that improves both responsiveness and accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If focus operations are performed frequently to maintain focus during procedures, then focus stability is improved, but unnecessary focus operations increase, reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing focus operations only when motion information reliability exceeds a predetermined threshold. Instead of continuously adjusting focus or responding to every motion detection, the system selectively executes focus operations only when necessary, reducing unnecessary operations while maintaining adequate focus stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts focus control behavior based on real-time reliability assessment. The processor evaluates motion information reliability frame-by-frame and adapts focus operation timing accordingly, creating a dynamic control strategy that balances focus stability with operational efficiency by performing fewer, more targeted focus operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motion information from low reliability frames is used for focus control, then focus control coverage is improved, but focus operation accuracy deteriorates due to unreliable motion data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of motion information reliability before executing focus operations. The processor analyzes multiple frames, calculates motion vectors, and determines reliability thresholds are met before triggering focus control, ensuring that only high-quality motion information is used while maintaining broad adaptability through comprehensive frame analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The reliability determination mechanism serves as an intermediary layer between raw motion information and focus control execution. By inserting this assessment step, the system filters out unreliable motion data while preserving coverage of various procedural scenarios, achieving both broad adaptability and high accuracy through selective information processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus includes a processor. The processor acquires motion information representing a relative motion with respect to an imaging section and an object, and determines whether or not to perform a focus operation of causing an imaging section to bring an object into focus based on the motion information. The processor obtains global motion information representing a global relative motion with respect to the imaging section and the object based on the motion information, determines global motion information reliability that is reliability of the global motion information, and determines whether or not to perform the focus operation based on two or more frame images including a first frame image corresponding to a high reliability frame before a low reliability frame and a second frame image corresponding to the high reliability frame after the low reliability frame.