Clock Signal Synchronization in Endoscope Imaging Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems face challenges in synchronizing clock signals between a camera unit and a main body, particularly in electronic endoscope systems, where reliable clock signal transmission and synchronization are crucial for image data processing, but are hindered by noise and frequency fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a camera unit with a solid-state imaging device, a clock generation circuit, and a communicator that transmits digital data with embedded clock signals, while the main body includes a clock detection circuit and a phase comparator to synchronize clock signals, using a ring oscillator and voltage-controlled oscillator to adjust frequency and phase, ensuring stable clock signal synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clock signal is transmitted through a long cable from the camera unit to the main body, then the imaging system can operate, but the clock signal is affected by noise and frequency fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock signal transmission function from the main data transmission channel. The camera unit generates a clock signal that is embedded into image data, and the main body extracts this clock signal from the received image data. This separation allows the clock signal to be transmitted reliably through the existing data channel without being affected by noise and frequency fluctuations that would occur in a dedicated long cable transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image data as an intermediary carrier to transmit the clock signal. Instead of transmitting the clock signal directly through a cable, it embeds the clock signal within the image data stream. The main body then extracts the clock signal from this intermediary carrier, effectively using the image data as a mediator to protect the clock signal from noise and frequency fluctuations during transmission.
2Ease of operation
If the camera unit generates its own clock signal independently, then it can operate autonomously, but the clock signal becomes unsynchronized with the main body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the main body extracts the clock signal from the image data and uses it as a reference to generate synchronized image processing clock signals. This feedback loop ensures that the camera unit can operate autonomously while maintaining clock signal synchronization with the main body, as the main body's clock generation is continuously adjusted based on the extracted clock signal from the image data.
3Reliability
If separate signal lines are used for clock signal and image data transmission, then signal integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock signal transmission function with the image data transmission channel. The clock signal is embedded into the image data stream, allowing both the clock signal and image data to be transmitted through the same communication channel. This combining of functions reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate signal lines while maintaining signal integrity through the embedding and extraction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the image data channel multi-functional by using it for both image data transmission and clock signal transmission. This universal channel serves dual purposes, reducing the overall complexity of the signal line configuration while maintaining reliable signal transmission through the embedded clock signal extraction mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes a camera unit and a main body. A clock detection circuit is configured to detect a first clock signal of the camera unit from first digital data transmitted from the camera unit. A phase comparator is configured to generate second digital data that represent a difference between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of a second clock signal of the main body. A second communicator is configured to perform communication in a second direction in which the second digital data are transmitted to the camera unit in a blanking period. A first clock generation circuit is configured to generate the first clock signal synchronized with the second clock signal on the basis of the second digital data.