Endoscope Exposure Control With Ratio-Based Gain Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope technologies lack the capability to simultaneously control light adjustment using multiple parameters such as electronic shutter, gain, and aperture to achieve a wide dynamic range, especially when object brightness changes rapidly.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope control processing apparatus that calculates exposure time and gain adjustments based on light adjustment detection, using an electronic shutter function to control exposure time and adjust gain in subsequent frames, allowing simultaneous control of multiple light adjustment parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If light adjustment control is performed using only one parameter (electronic shutter, gain, or aperture) sequentially, then the control method is simple, but the dynamic range and adaptability to rapid brightness changes are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light adjustment parameters (electronic shutter, gain, and aperture) into a unified control system that operates simultaneously rather than sequentially. The control unit integrates these parameters to achieve wide dynamic range while maintaining adaptability to rapid brightness changes, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters based on real-time brightness detection. When brightness changes rapidly, the control unit can simultaneously modify electronic shutter timing, gain values, and aperture settings to maintain optimal image quality, providing adaptive control that sequential adjustment cannot achieve.
2Reliability
If multiple light adjustment parameters are controlled simultaneously to achieve wide dynamic range, then the light adjustment capability is improved, but the control processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control where the control unit continuously monitors brightness detection results and automatically adjusts multiple parameters (electronic shutter, gain, aperture) in response to detected brightness changes. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable light adjustment while managing processing complexity through automated decision-making based on real-time data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic shutter control value is adjusted to change exposure time, then the light adjustment range is expanded, but the image quality may deteriorate due to discrete exposure time steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously including electronic shutter control values, gain values, and aperture settings to achieve smooth and accurate light adjustment. By coordinating these parameter changes together, the system expands exposure time adjustment range while maintaining image quality, as the combined effect of multiple parameters compensates for the discrete nature of individual adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
Image signals are acquired in frame units from an endoscope including an image pickup device. The image pickup device has an electronic shutter function configured to control an exposure time. A processor performs light adjustment detection on an image signal to calculate a target value of an exposure time, calculates an electronic shutter control value from the target value, calculates an actual value of the exposure time from the electronic shutter control value, calculates an exposure time ratio between the actual value and the target value, acquires from the endoscope an image signal in a new frame picked up based on the electronic shutter control value, and adjusts a gain of the image signal in the new frame based on the exposure time ratio.