Endoscope Image Capture Selection via Frame Quality Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems struggle to capture high-quality still images, often resulting in blurry images due to camera movement, and require users to repeatedly recapture images, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system comprising an image sensor and a processing device that consecutively receives frames, determines quality properties such as sharpness and contrast, and selects the best frame based on these properties for capture, allowing for temporary storage and output of the designated frame, thereby improving image quality and reducing the need for repeated captures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a still image is captured from the video feed using an external video-/image-grabber, then the user can obtain a captured image, but the image quality may be poor (blurry) due to camera movement during capture
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and storing multiple video frames in a buffer before the user actually triggers the still image capture. When the capture is initiated, the system has already prepared a sequence of frames that can be evaluated for quality, allowing selection of the best frame rather than relying on a single potentially blurry capture moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by evaluating quality properties (such as sharpness, contrast, and noise levels) of each frame in the buffer and using this information to automatically select the designated frame with the highest quality. This feedback mechanism ensures that the captured still image meets quality standards without requiring manual retrying by the user.
2Measurement precision
If the user repeatedly recaptures images to obtain high-quality still images, then the image quality can be improved, but the operation time and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and storing multiple video frames in a buffer before the user actually triggers the still image capture. When the capture is initiated, the system has already prepared a sequence of frames that can be evaluated for quality, allowing selection of the best frame rather than relying on a single potentially blurry capture moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically evaluating the quality of each frame in the buffer and selecting the designated frame with the highest quality properties without requiring user intervention. This automation eliminates the need for users to repeatedly recapture images manually, saving time and improving efficiency while ensuring high image quality.
3Measurement precision
If multiple frames are stored in a buffer for quality evaluation, then the selection of high-quality frames is enabled, but the device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by storing only a limited number of recent frames in the buffer (e.g., 1-5 frames) rather than storing all historical frames. This partial buffering approach provides sufficient data for quality evaluation and selection of the best frame while keeping memory requirements and system complexity manageable.
4Measurement precision
If quality evaluation is performed on each frame, then the selection of the best frame is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by performing quality evaluation only on a limited subset of recent frames stored in the buffer rather than analyzing all possible frames. This selective evaluation approach maintains accurate frame selection while significantly reducing processing time and computational load compared to exhaustive analysis of the entire video history.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for operating an endoscope system and an endoscope system comprising an image sensor and a processing device, the image sensor comprising an image sensor output, the processing device comprising an input connected to the image sensor output. The method comprising: consecutively receiving frames captured by the image sensor; receiving a first capture signal, indicative of an operator performing a first action associated with capturing a still image of the frames captured by the image sensor; storing a first plurality of frames of the frames captured by the image sensor; determining one or more quality properties of each of the first plurality of frames; and selecting a designated frame of the first plurality of frames based on the one or more quality properties.