Endoscope RGB Light Control for Absorption Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscope systems face challenges in enhancing color tone differences and visibility of interest when absorption substances like pyoktanin coloring agents are present, as existing technologies cannot effectively adjust signal levels of specific colors to compensate for light absorption, leading to reduced image clarity.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system that includes a light source unit emitting red, green, and blue light at adjustable ratios, an image pick-up sensor capturing RGB image signals, and a control unit that dynamically adjusts light emission ratios and intensities to match signal levels, ensuring improved visibility of interest areas by correcting signal levels of affected colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pyoktanin coloring agent is sprayed onto the observation target to clarify the pit pattern, then the pit pattern visibility is improved, but the signal level of the G image signal is lowered due to light absorption by the coloring agent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepit pattern visibilityVSAvoidsignal level of G image signal
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the light emission ratio parameters of the semiconductor light sources. When a coloring agent is detected or anticipated, the control unit increases the emission intensity of green light to compensate for the absorption by the pyoktanin coloring agent, thereby maintaining the signal level of the G image signal while preserving the enhanced pit pattern visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback control by monitoring the RGB image signals and automatically adjusting the light emission ratios. The control unit detects changes in signal levels caused by coloring agents and dynamically adjusts the light source output to maintain optimal image quality, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to varying observation conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If the light emission ratio of green light is increased to compensate for absorption by pyoktanin coloring agent, then the signal level of G image signal is restored, but the overall color balance of the illumination light is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal level of G image signalVSAvoidcolor balance of illumination light
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts multiple light emission ratio parameters simultaneously rather than changing only the green light intensity. When compensating for green light absorption, the control unit also proportionally adjusts the emission ratios of blue and red lights to maintain the overall color temperature and color balance of the illumination light, ensuring natural color representation while restoring signal levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The semiconductor light source device is designed to independently control the emission intensity of multiple wavelengths (blue, green, red) while maintaining a unified color balance. This multi-functional capability allows the system to simultaneously restore specific color signal levels and preserve overall color accuracy, serving both compensation and color balancing functions through a single integrated control mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system effectively enhances color tone differences and improves visibility of interest areas even when absorption substances other than hemoglobin are present, by dynamically adjusting light emission ratios and intensities, thereby improving image clarity and diagnostic visibility.

Implementation Method 1

a semiconductor light source of a plurality of colors obtained by combining a blue LED, a green LED, and a red LED

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

an image pick-up sensor that images an observation target in a body, and outputs a color image signal including an image signal of a first color, an image signal of a second color, and an image signal of a third color

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

the observation target is greatly affected by absorption characteristics of hemoglobin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3127469B1Endoscope system
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3127469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3127469B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3127469B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A

AI summary

Provided is an endoscope system capable of emphasizing a slight difference in color tone. An observation target in a body illuminated by red, green and blue light R, G and B at a first light emission ratio is imaged by an image pick-up sensor 48, and an image signal of a first color, an image signal of a second color, and an image signal of a third color are output. The light emission ratio of the red, green and blue light R, G and B is changed from the first light emission ratio to a second light emission ratio, and the amount of the red, green and blue light R, G and B is controlled so that the image signal of the second color or the image signal of the third color matches the signal level of the image signal of the first color.