Endoscope Dimming Control for Halation Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscope systems with wide-angle lenses face challenges in maintaining appropriate brightness across the image field, particularly when capturing lesions diagonally or at varying distances, leading to halation and reduced operator efficiency during diagnosis and procedures.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system that includes an image acquisition section, an attention area setting section, and a dimming control section, which sets an attention area within the captured image and adjusts illumination light intensity based on that area to maintain optimal brightness, using techniques such as calculating average luminance and adjusting the light source aperture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a wide-angle objective lens is used to observe the side field of view, then the field of view is widened and lesion areas are less likely to be missed, but the brightness of the captured image becomes inappropriate and halation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidbrightness of captured image

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the captured image into a center area and a periphery area, and applies different brightness control strategies to each segment. The center area maintains normal brightness while the periphery area is specifically dimmed to prevent halation, allowing the wide-angle lens to capture extended field of view without compromising image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality control by treating different regions of the image differently. The periphery area receives enhanced dimming treatment compared to the center area, creating localized brightness adjustment that prevents halation in specific regions while preserving overall image visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If the illumination light intensity is increased to brighten the captured image, then the brightness is improved, but halation becomes more pronounced and diagnostic accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness of captured imageVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of halation into a beneficial control mechanism by using the brightness information from the periphery area to dynamically adjust illumination intensity. The halation problem is transformed into a feedback signal that optimizes the balance between brightness and diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Illumination intensity

If the illumination light intensity is dynamically adjusted based on captured image brightness, then the brightness control is improved, but the response time increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness controlVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating the relationship between illumination intensity and captured image brightness through simulation. This pre-established mapping allows the system to directly adjust illumination intensity based on periphery area brightness without time-consuming real-time calculations, reducing response time while maintaining accurate brightness control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex real-time brightness adjustment mechanisms with a simplified control approach that uses pre-established relationships and feedback from the periphery area. This substitution reduces computational complexity and response time while maintaining effective brightness control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution ensures the attention area is maintained at appropriate brightness, reducing operator burden and improving diagnostic and procedural efficiency by preventing halation and ensuring clear visibility of critical areas.

Implementation Method 1

applying illumination light emitted from a light source section to an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

allows the user to perform diagnosis and procedures using an image obtained by capturing reflected light from the tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

an objective lens that optically forms an image of the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical imaging: Lens

Implementation Method 4

An image sensor (e.g., CCD image sensor or CMOS image sensor)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9801531B2Endoscope system and method for operating endoscope system

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An endoscope system includes an image acquisition section, an attention area setting section, and a dimming control section. The image acquisition section acquires a captured image that includes an object image. The attention area setting section sets an attention area within the captured image based on information from the endoscope system. The dimming control section performs a dimming control process that controls the intensity of illumination light based on the attention area set by the attention area setting section.