Endoscope Imaging Control via Luminance Threshold Region Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging control systems for endoscopes, such as autofocusing, automatic gain control, and automatic white balance, often fail to accurately set the operator-desired body part as the photometric area, leading to inappropriate focus or image adjustments during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An imaging control device and method that divides the image into regions, calculates luminance values, and sets the photometric area based on regions with luminance values exceeding a threshold, allowing the operator to intentionally reflect light on the desired area for precise control of autofocusing, automatic gain, and white balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If autofocusing control is performed by excluding body parts that are not appropriate for focusing, then inappropriate body parts are prevented from coming into focus, but when the focus is on any one of a plurality of unexcluded body parts, there is a possibility that the body part in focus is not the operator-desired body part
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses luminance value feedback from the imaging device to automatically determine the photometric area. The control device calculates luminance values for multiple body parts and automatically selects the one with the highest luminance value as the photometric area, providing feedback-based automatic control that eliminates the need for manual operator selection while ensuring accurate focus on the desired body part
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system performs self-service by automatically identifying and selecting the appropriate photometric area based on luminance value calculations. The control device autonomously determines which body part should be in focus without requiring manual operator intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in selecting the optimal focus area
2Device complexity
If imaging auto-control is performed without accurate photometric area setting, then the control process is simple, but the body part in focus may not be the operator-desired body part
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical selection of the photometric area with an automated optical-electrical system. The control device uses luminance value calculations and automatic comparison to substitute the manual operator action of selecting the photometric area, thereby maintaining simple device structure while achieving accurate photometric area setting
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the parameter used for photometric area selection from manual operator input to automatic luminance value calculation. By using luminance value as the selection criterion and automatically comparing values across different body parts, the system achieves accurate photometric area setting through parameter-based automatic control
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 accurate and operator-controlled imaging auto-control, ensuring the desired body part is in focus and optimally adjusted, improving the clarity and quality of in-vivo images during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a first region having a luminance value equal to or greater than a predetermined luminance value is determined to be present in a taken image
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging control device includes: a region dividing unit (50) that divides a taken image into a plurality of regions; a luminance value calculating unit (52) that calculates the average luminance value of each region obtained by division by the region dividing unit (50); a region identifying unit (54) that identifies a region in which the average luminance value calculated by the luminance value calculating unit (52) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value; a photometric range deciding unit (56) that, when the period of time for which the average luminance value of the region identified by the region identifying unit (54) is equal to or greater than the threshold value is a period of time equal to or greater than a first predetermined period and smaller than a second predetermined period, decides that the region identified by the region identifying unit (54) represents a new photometric range; and a signal processing unit (58) that performs imaging auto-control with respect to the new photometric range decided by the photometric range deciding unit (56).