Endoscope Image Pickup Abnormality Detection and Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope systems with CMOS sensors face issues with data setup and noise interference, leading to abnormality detection and image quality degradation due to the long cable length and vulnerability of setup data to noise.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with an image pickup apparatus that includes an image pickup device control section, storage for setup data, an abnormality sensing mechanism, and communication sections to reset and retransmit control information, ensuring data integrity and image quality by detecting and correcting setup data abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If setup data is transmitted through a long cable from the processor to the CMOS sensor, then the endoscope system can maintain flexible cable length for insertion, but the setup data becomes vulnerable to noise interference and abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing setup data in non-volatile memory (ROM) within the image pickup apparatus at the distal end, before the data is needed during operation. This pre-stored data eliminates the need for continuous transmission through the long cable, thereby maintaining data integrity while preserving cable flexibility for insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a register at the distal end of the insertion section that receives setup data from the processor and stores it locally. This register acts as a mediator between the processor and the CMOS sensor, decoupling the long cable transmission requirement from the data integrity requirement.
2Ease of operation
If setup data is stored in a register at the distal end portion, then data can be held locally for operation, but abnormalities in the control section cannot be detected without additional sensing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating an abnormality sensing section that continuously monitors the register and control section for abnormalities. When an abnormality is detected, the system generates a signal to reset the register, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains reliable operation while enabling local data storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically detect and correct its own abnormalities through the abnormality sensing section and reset mechanism. The system monitors itself and performs self-correction without external intervention, maintaining ease of operation while enabling abnormality detection.
3Reliability
If the image pickup apparatus includes comprehensive control sections and sensing mechanisms, then reliability and abnormality detection improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the abnormality sensing function with the existing control section structure, combining multiple functions into integrated components. The abnormality sensing section works in conjunction with the register and control section, sharing resources and reducing overall complexity while maintaining high reliability and detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system has an image pickup section and a processor. The image pickup section has a control register section which controls a sensor section, a nonvolatile memory which stores first setup data, a control signal interface section which sets the first setup data in the control register section, and an initialization check register which senses an abnormality in the control register section. When an abnormality is sensed, the control signal interface section reads out the setup data from the nonvolatile memory and performs control so as to reset the setup data in the control register section. The control signal interface section further has a memory which stores reset occurrence information upon occurrence of reset. The processor includes a control section which reads out the reset occurrence information from the memory, and, when reset is detected, transmits second setup information held by the processor to the image pickup section.