Endoscope Light Source Controller Tint Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscopic imaging, switching between different wavelengths of light to visualize various tissue layers results in significant differences in image tint, leading to reduced visibility of information due to noise generation during white balance processing.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a light source unit emitting first and second illumination lights of different spectra, an image pickup sensor with specific pixels sensitive to both, and a light source controller that adjusts light emission periods and intensities to match signal values across images, ensuring consistent tint and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple wavelengths of illumination light are used to visualize different tissue layers, then information about superficial and intermediate layers can be obtained, but significant differences in image tint occur between images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of illumination light to visualize different tissue layers (superficial layer with first wavelength, intermediate layer with second wavelength). This allows obtaining information about different tissue depths while managing the resulting tint differences through signal value matching processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical/chemical tint adjustment methods with signal processing (matching signal values between images). Instead of physically altering the illumination or tissue, the system uses digital processing to equalize the tint characteristics of images taken with different wavelengths, thereby resolving the tint instability issue.
2Stability of the object's composition
If white balance processing is applied to correct tint differences, then image tint consistency is improved, but noise is generated between images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes traditional white balance processing with a signal value matching approach. Instead of applying gain adjustments that amplify noise, the system matches the signal values of corresponding pixels between images taken with different wavelengths, achieving tint consistency without the noise amplification side effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a reference signal value from one image and applies it to corresponding pixels in another image. By copying the signal value characteristics from a reference image to target images, the system achieves tint consistency without performing noisy white balance calculations on each image independently.
3Loss of information
If signal values are matched between images to maintain consistent tint, then visibility of tissue information is improved, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the imaging system self-correcting by automatically matching signal values between images of different wavelengths. The system performs tint normalization without requiring external intervention or complex manual calibration, as the signal value matching is integrated into the image processing pipeline and operates autonomously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables visualization of image differences while maintaining consistent image tints, improving the visibility of superficial and intermediate tissue layers by matching signal values and reducing noise between images.
Implementation Method 1
an image of the object to be observed, which is being illuminated with the illumination light, is picked up by an image pickup element of the endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
First illumination light and second illumination light having different emission spectra are automatically switched so as to be emitted for a light emission period of at least one or more frames under specific light amount conditions, respectively. First image signals obtained in a case where an image is picked up using the first illumination light and second image signals obtained in a case where an image is picked up using the second illumination light are acquired. A first specific color signal for specific biological tissue among the first image signals and a second specific color signal for the specific biological tissue among the second image signals match.