3D Endoscope Image Pickup Timing Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D endoscopes with transversely mounted image pickup devices face challenges in aligning the reading timing of effective pixels from different image-forming positions, leading to inverted object images and difficulties in reducing the diameter of the insertion portion.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with a plurality of image pickup devices, an optical system forming images at different positions, a memory to adjust reading timing based on pixel differences, and a timing control circuit generating synchronizing signals to align the leading positions of effective pixels for simultaneous reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If image pickup devices are transversely mounted to reduce insertion portion diameter, then the diameter of insertion portion is reduced, but the reading timing of effective pixels from different image-forming positions cannot be aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the time difference information in a memory unit before image acquisition. The timing control circuit retrieves this predetermined time difference to adjust the reading timing of effective pixels, ensuring proper synchronization without requiring complex real-time calculations during image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a timing control circuit as an intermediary component that mediates between the master synchronizing signal and the individual image pickup devices. This circuit generates adjusted synchronizing signals by applying predetermined time differences, thereby coordinating the reading timing of effective pixels across multiple image pickup devices with different image-forming positions.
2Volume of moving object
If substrates with image pickup devices are disposed perpendicularly to insertion portion, then insertion portion diameter is reduced, but object images picked up by left and right image pickup devices become inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by deliberately disposing substrates perpendicularly to the insertion portion axis, which inverts the object images. This inverted configuration is then compensated for by adjusting the reading timing of effective pixels using predetermined time differences, allowing the system to maintain a compact insertion portion while correcting the image orientation through timing adjustment rather than optical realignment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple image pickup devices are used for 3D imaging, then 3D observation capability is achieved, but the complexity of synchronizing reading timing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies timing synchronization complexity by performing preliminary calculations of time differences during system setup or calibration. These predetermined time differences are stored in memory and automatically retrieved during operation, eliminating the need for complex real-time synchronization calculations and reducing the computational burden during 3D image acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing control circuit operates autonomously by automatically generating adjusted synchronizing signals based on stored time difference information. The system self-regulates the reading timing of effective pixels without requiring external intervention or complex control algorithms, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining 3D observation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes: a plurality of image pickup devices configured to pick up images of a same object and sequentially read the images for each line; an objective optical system configured to form the images at different image-forming positions on the image pickup devices; a memory configured to record predetermined time differences for reading the leading positions of the effective pixels of the images at the same timing; and an I2C control circuit configured to control the image reading timing of the image pickup devices by generating a plurality of synchronizing signals based on a master synchronizing signal and supplying the synchronizing signals to the image pickup devices after shifting the synchronizing signals by the respective predetermined time differences.