Endoscope Luminance Shift for Uniform Region Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wide angle endoscopes face challenges in achieving uniform illumination across different regions of a subject, leading to brightness inconsistencies between forward and side-view observations, resulting in uneven luminance distributions that hinder effective image observation and diagnosis.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system that includes an image forming section to arrange first and second images from different regions adjacent to each other, a light source section to adjust illumination based on brightness evaluation, and an image processing section to perform luminance shift processing to ensure the luminance range falls within predetermined limits, thereby maintaining proper brightness for observation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wide angle endoscope uses front-view and side-view observation optical systems to expand observation range, then observation coverage is improved, but luminance uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobservation coverageVSAvoidluminance uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing into two distinct processing paths: one for the first image (from first region) and one for the second image (from second region). Different luminance correction methods are applied to each image based on their respective luminance characteristics, allowing optimized processing for each region while maintaining overall luminance uniformity in the composite image.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different luminance correction strategies to different regions of the image based on their specific luminance characteristics. The first image receives one type of luminance correction while the second image receives another type, ensuring that each region's luminance is optimized according to its local properties rather than applying a uniform correction to the entire image.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If luminance correction is applied to compensate for brightness differences between regions, then luminance uniformity is improved, but image processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance uniformityVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic luminance correction by determining the luminance characteristics of each image and selectively applying different correction methods. The correction approach is not fixed but adapts based on the actual luminance distribution, using either first-type or second-type correction for each image to achieve uniform luminance output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes luminance parameters through selective application of different correction methods. By monitoring luminance characteristics and adjusting the correction type accordingly, the system modifies luminance parameters to achieve uniformity while avoiding overly complex processing through intelligent parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If conventional luminance correction methods are used, then brightness target value is achieved, but three-dimensional appearance and shading are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness target valueVSAvoidthree-dimensional appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial luminance correction by selectively correcting only the necessary luminance deviations while preserving the natural luminance relationships that create three-dimensional appearance. Rather than aggressively correcting all luminance differences, the system applies just enough correction to achieve uniformity while maintaining essential depth cues and shading information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10602916B2Endoscope system that adjusts luminance of frame image including images of a pluraliry of regions and actuating method for endoscope system

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An endoscope system includes an image forming section configured to arrange first and second images obtained by picking up images of first and second regions of a subject to be adjacent to each other to form an image of one frame, a light source section configured to emit illumination light based on a brightness evaluation of the image to the first and second regions, a brightness-range calculating section configured to detect minimum and maximum luminance values in the first and second images, and an image processing section configured to perform a luminance shift such that a minimum or maximum luminance value of an image, a luminance range of which is smaller than a predetermined luminance range, among the first and second images coincides with a predetermined luminance lower limit or upper limit value.