Endoscope Noise Reduction via Color Filter Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope devices face challenges in effectively reducing noise components in both white illumination light imaging and narrow band imaging systems due to differences in pixel value characteristics between the two systems, leading to inadequate noise reduction in one system while being insufficient in the other.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope device equipped with a light source unit emitting white or narrow band illumination light, an imaging device with a color filter having a specific arrangement of filters transmitting blue, green, and red wavelength bands, and a noise reducing unit that selects pixels based on filter information to detect motion between images and reduce noise components in the image signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If noise reduction processing is performed based on pixel values from a specific filter in white illumination light imaging, then noise component is appropriately reduced in white illumination light imaging, but noise component cannot be appropriately reduced in narrow band imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a color filter with a specific arrangement where green wavelength band filters constitute at least half of the total filters, and blue wavelength band filters are at least equal to green wavelength band filters. This configuration enables the same filter to effectively support noise reduction processing in both white illumination light imaging and narrow band imaging systems, making the noise reduction algorithm universally applicable across different imaging modalities without requiring system-specific adjustments
2Measurement precision
If a color filter with specific filter arrangement is used to enable noise reduction in narrow band imaging, then noise reduction is achieved in narrow band imaging, but noise reduction performance may deteriorate in white illumination light imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the wavelength band ranges and quantities of different filters. Specifically, green wavelength band filters are set to transmit 500-560nm light and constitute at least half of total filters, while blue wavelength band filters transmit 420-480nm light and are at least equal in number to green filters. This parameter optimization ensures effective noise reduction across both imaging systems
3Device complexity
If conventional noise reduction processing is applied without considering filter characteristics, then processing complexity is reduced, but noise component cannot be appropriately reduced in both imaging systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing different filter units with specific local characteristics. Each filter unit contains a predetermined arrangement of red, green, and blue wavelength band filters, with green filters forming the majority and blue filters being at least equal to green filters. This localized filter configuration ensures that pixels within each unit have consistent characteristics optimized for noise reduction, while the overall filter array maintains compatibility with both imaging systems
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
The solution enables effective noise reduction in both white illumination light imaging and narrow band imaging systems, improving image quality by accurately compensating for motion and reducing noise across different imaging modalities.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging device configured to perform photoelectric conversion on light received by a plurality of pixels arranged in a lattice pattern to generate an electric signal as an image signal
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope device includes: a light source unit; an imaging device; a color filter in which a filter unit is arranged, the filter unit in which the number of filters which transmit light of a green wavelength band is equal to or larger than half the total number of filters and the number of filters which transmit light of a blue wavelength band is equal to or larger than the number of filters which transmit the light of the green wavelength band; and a noise reducing unit configured to select a pixel of interest based on used filter information determined according to the light emitted by the light source unit and a characteristic of each filter forming the color filter and detect motion between images captured at different times by using an electric signal output by the pixel of interest, thereby reducing a noise component included in the image signal.