Endoscope Illumination Control via Segmented Brightness Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope systems face challenges in dynamically adjusting illumination to optimize image brightness across varying brightness ranges, leading to suboptimal image quality in medical observations.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a processor that controls the current value and application period of semiconductor light sources based on detected image brightness, employing different control patterns for three distinct brightness ranges to adjust illumination effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single control pattern is used to adjust illumination for all brightness ranges, then the control system is simple, but image brightness cannot be optimized across varying brightness ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the brightness control into three distinct control patterns corresponding to different brightness ranges (first, second, and third brightness ranges). Each control pattern adjusts the semiconductor light source parameters (current value and/or application period) differently according to the detected brightness level, enabling optimized illumination for varying observation conditions without requiring an overly complex unified control system.
2Illumination intensity
If the current value of semiconductor light source is increased to improve illumination, then brightness improves, but color tone shifts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes periodic action by adjusting the application period (duty cycle) of the current applied to the semiconductor light source instead of solely increasing current value. By controlling the ratio of light-emitting time to total time (pulse width modulation), the system can adjust brightness while maintaining stable color tone, as the light source operates at a consistent current level rather than varying it to achieve brightness changes.
3Reliability
If different control patterns are used for different brightness ranges, then image brightness is optimized, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously detecting the brightness of the captured image and automatically selecting the appropriate control pattern (first, second, or third) based on the detected brightness range. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal image quality across varying conditions while automating the control selection process, preventing the system from becoming complex from a user operation perspective despite having multiple control patterns.
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 approach ensures optimal image brightness and quality by dynamically adjusting illumination, enhancing visibility for both near, mid-range, and distant views, while preventing color tone shifts that can occur with semiconductor light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to generate illumination light for illuminating an object existing in a subject, the light source including one or more semiconductor light sources
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes: a light source including one or more semiconductor light sources; an image pickup apparatus configured to pick up an image of the object irradiated with the illumination light to obtain the image; and a processor. The processor is configured to detect brightness of the image, to change one of a current value and an application period of a current applied to the semiconductor light source when the brightness of the image belongs to a first brightness range, to change the brightness of the image by predetermined processing, to which the image is subjected, when the brightness of the image belongs to a second brightness range, and to change the other of the current value and the application period of the current applied to the semiconductor light source when the brightness of the image belongs to a third brightness range.