Endoscope Image Pickup Multiplexing Reference Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscope systems, image pickup signals transmitted through long cables suffer from noise interference due to power source voltage fluctuations, leading to deteriorated image quality, despite noise removal techniques like correlated double sampling.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus that multiplexes reference voltage signals and image pickup signals in time division, using a first sample hold circuit, a second sample hold circuit, an output selection circuit, and a timing generator to control the switching selection, ensuring the reference voltage signal is transmitted once every few pixel transmission periods, allowing for effective noise removal during signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the reference voltage signal transmission cycle is shortened to improve noise removal effectiveness, then the noise removal precision is improved, but the transmission rate of image pickup signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of reference voltage signals at optimized intervals. The timing generator controls the multiplexer to transmit reference voltage signals periodically at a cycle longer than the image pickup signal transmission cycle, achieving optimal balance between noise removal effectiveness and transmission efficiency through rhythmic, periodic action rather than continuous or ad-hoc transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the transmission cycle parameter of reference voltage signals. By setting the reference voltage signal transmission cycle to be longer than the image pickup signal transmission cycle (e.g., transmitting reference voltage once every few pixel transmission periods), the system achieves parameter optimization that balances noise removal precision with overall transmission rate, avoiding both excessive and insufficient transmission frequencies
2Manufacturing precision
If noise removal processing is performed more frequently, then the image quality is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs noise removal processing periodically based on the transmission cycle of reference voltage signals. The timing generator coordinates the multiplexer and sample hold circuits to execute noise removal at optimized intervals, achieving image quality improvement without excessive processing frequency that would consume unnecessary time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sampling and holding of both image pickup signals and reference voltage signals before noise removal processing. The first sample hold circuit samples image pickup signals, while the second sample hold circuit samples reference voltage signals, preparing them in advance for efficient noise removal processing that reduces actual processing time
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes: a first sample hold circuit configured to sample-hold an image pickup signal; a second sample hold circuit configured to sample-hold a reference voltage signal; an output selection circuit configured to switchingly select one of the image pickup signal inputted from the first sample hold circuit and the reference voltage signal and output a selected signal as an image pickup output; and a timing generator configured to control a timing of the switching selection of the output selection circuit; wherein the timing generator decides the timing of the switching selection so that the reference voltage signal is transmitted in one pixel transmission period required for transmission of the image pickup signal of one pixel, and the reference voltage signal is transmitted once every time the image pickup signal of each of a plurality of pixels is transmitted.