Endoscope Image Processing Tone Correction and Sharpness Emphasis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscope image processing technologies face challenges in effectively switching between observation modes and emphasis levels, leading to inconsistent image quality and noise issues, particularly in low-intensity portions.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device with a tone correcting circuit and emphasis circuit that adjusts tone correction characteristics and sharpness emphasis based on switching between observation modes and emphasis levels, using a combination of tone correcting circuits and emphasis circuits to optimize image processing for different modes and levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single tone correction characteristic is used for all observation modes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality and noise performance deteriorate across different observation modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetone correction circuit configurationVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching of tone correction characteristics based on the selected observation mode. The tone correction circuit changes its correction characteristic according to the observation mode (e.g., white light mode, narrow band mode), allowing optimal image quality for each mode while managing complexity through controlled adaptability rather than fixed single-mode correction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the tone correction circuit by switching between different correction characteristics stored in a tone correction characteristic storing section. Each observation mode has its optimized tone correction characteristic, and the system selects the appropriate parameter set (correction characteristic) based on the current observation mode, resolving the contradiction between complexity and performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If noise reduction processing is applied to low intensity portions, then the noise level is reduced, but the sharpness and detail information may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise in low intensity portionsVSAvoidimage sharpness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing characteristics to different intensity regions of the image. The emphasis processing circuit applies sharpness enhancement selectively, and the tone correction differently adjusts low intensity portions compared to high intensity portions. This local quality approach allows noise reduction in dark areas while preserving sharpness in important regions through region-specific processing parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the balance between noise reduction and sharpness preservation based on the observation mode. In modes where noise is more problematic, the tone correction characteristic is optimized to reduce noise in low intensity portions, while in modes where sharpness is critical, the emphasis processing is enhanced. This dynamic balancing resolves the contradiction adaptively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple tone correction characteristics are stored and switched based on observation mode, then the image quality is improved for each mode, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage quality optimizationVSAvoidtone correction circuit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tone correction circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple observation modes (white light mode, narrow band mode, etc.) using a single circuit architecture. The circuit can switch between different correction characteristics stored in the tone correction characteristic storing section, making one circuit serve multiple functions for different modes rather than requiring separate circuits for each mode, thus managing complexity while maintaining optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If emphasis processing is applied to enhance sharpness, then the visual clarity is improved, but the noise in low intensity portions becomes more prominent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharpness emphasisVSAvoidnoise visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically controls the emphasis processing based on the observation mode and the intensity of the image portions. The emphasis processing circuit applies different levels of sharpness enhancement depending on the local intensity, and the tone correction characteristic is switched to compensate for noise amplification in low intensity portions. This dynamic control allows sharpness enhancement while managing noise visibility through coordinated processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8237783B2Image processing device for endoscope and endoscope apparatus

Publication Date: 2012.08.07 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An image processing device for an endoscope includes an image processing section which performs signal processing for generating an image signal to be observed as an endoscope image, for a signal picked up with an image pickup device equipped in the endoscope, a tone correcting circuit section which corrects a tone for the image signal, and a switching section which switches an observation mode or a type for observing as an endoscope image, and changes a correction characteristic of a tone by the tone correcting circuit section in accordance with switching of the observation mode or the type.