Wireless Endoscope Power Saving via Brightness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless endoscopes face challenges with increasing battery capacity leading to increased weight, compromising portability, and existing power-saving technologies are inefficient in determining when the device is outside the imaged space, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a processor that determines whether it has exited a space by analyzing image data for brightness and focal position, reducing power consumption by adjusting the light source and imaging device settings accordingly, and switching to power-saving mode when certain conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the battery capacity is increased to extend operation time, then the power supply duration is improved, but the weight of the wireless endoscope increases, compromising portability
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically monitors brightness values over time to determine when the imaging device has exited the target space. By implementing periodic brightness detection and comparing sequences of brightness values across multiple time points, the system can accurately detect space exit events and trigger appropriate power-saving actions, thereby extending operational duration without requiring additional battery capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power-saving control is implemented by reducing light source irradiation, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to detect space exit accurately may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary brightness measurements at multiple time points before triggering power-saving mode. By accumulating brightness data over a predetermined period and analyzing trends in advance, the system can accurately determine space exit events even with reduced light source irradiation, maintaining detection precision while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors brightness values and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts light source irradiation accordingly. When brightness exceeds thresholds indicating space exit, the system reduces irradiation; when brightness returns to normal ranges, the system restores full irradiation, creating a feedback loop that maintains detection accuracy while optimizing power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If the light source irradiation is continuously maintained at high level, then the brightness detection accuracy is improved, but the battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous high-level irradiation, the system implements periodic brightness monitoring and adjusts light source irradiation based on detected patterns. By analyzing brightness values at multiple discrete time points and comparing them against thresholds, the system maintains adequate detection accuracy while reducing overall energy consumption through intermittent rather than continuous high-power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the irradiation parameter of the light source based on operational conditions. When space exit is detected through brightness analysis, the system reduces irradiation intensity; when normal imaging conditions are confirmed, the system restores full irradiation. This parameter adjustment strategy maintains detection accuracy when needed while minimizing energy loss during extended operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus includes a processor, an imaging device, and a light source. The processor is configured to determine whether or not the imaging device has gone out of space of which at least part is surrounded by an object when the imaging device is performing imaging after the imaging device is inserted into the space. The processor is configured to execute power-saving control when the processor determines that the imaging device has gone out of the space. In the power-saving control, the processor is configured to make power consumption of a control target less than power consumption of the control target before the power-saving control is executed. The control target is at least one of the imaging device and the light source.