Endoscope Brightness Control via Exponential Exposure Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope systems cannot finely adjust exposure time and brightness transition speed, leading to drastic changes in image brightness.

Innovation Solution

An electronic endoscope device with a brightness calculation unit and a control unit that exponentially adjusts exposure time to achieve set brightness levels, using a look-up table to control the exposure time of the imaging device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If exposure time is adjusted linearly to change brightness, then brightness control is simple, but the brightness changes drastically and cannot be adjusted finely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness control simplicityVSAvoidbrightness adjustment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mathematical relationship between exposure time and brightness from linear to exponential. By setting exposure time as an exponential function of the target brightness value, the system achieves fine-grained brightness control where small changes in target value produce subtle brightness adjustments, while maintaining simple operation through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If exposure time changes rapidly to reach target brightness, then real-time control is improved, but the brightness transition becomes abrupt and unnatural

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure control speedVSAvoidbrightness transition smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic transition speed control where the rate of exposure time change adapts based on the current state. The transition speed is set to decrease as the target brightness is approached, creating a smooth, natural-looking brightness transition that mimics human perception while maintaining fast initial response for real-time control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If exposure time is controlled with fixed transition speed, then control algorithm is simple, but the brightness adjustment cannot adapt to different viewing conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol algorithm simplicityVSAvoidbrightness adaptation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the current brightness is continuously measured and compared with the target brightness. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the exposure time transition, enabling adaptation to different viewing conditions and image states while maintaining a relatively simple control structure through standardized feedback loops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11160443B2Electronic endoscope device for changing observation image brightness

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 HOYA CORPORATION

AI summary

An electronic endoscope device is provided.An electronic endoscope device for obtaining an imaging signal from an imaging device for imaging an object and outputting an image based on the obtained imaging signal is provided with a brightness calculation unit that calculates brightness of the image, and a control unit that changes an exposure time in the imaging device exponentially so that the brightness calculated by the brightness calculation unit approaches set brightness.