Surgical Endoscope Imaging Control for Vignetting Area Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Erroneous determination of the observation area occurs in surgical endoscopes due to vignetting caused by high-luminance subjects or scope insertion, leading to incorrect image processing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with an imaging device and control device that determines the vignetting area and observation area multiple times, using evaluation frames to compare luminance values and perform parameter changes based on consistent determination results to suppress erroneous area determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single determination of observation area is performed, then the processing speed is fast, but the determination accuracy deteriorates due to vignetting from high-luminance subjects or scope insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by performing determination processing multiple times at predetermined time intervals instead of a single determination. The control device executes the determination process repeatedly, comparing results across multiple time points to filter out erroneous determinations caused by temporary vignetting effects from high-luminance subjects or scope insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by comparing determination results from multiple time points and using this comparison to identify and eliminate erroneous determinations. The system feeds back the comparison result to adjust the final determination, ensuring that temporary vignetting effects do not lead to incorrect observation area identification.
2Reliability
If multiple determination processes are performed to suppress erroneous determination, then the determination reliability is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action to perform determination processing at regular time intervals, which systematically improves reliability by capturing temporal variations in vignetting effects. This structured approach manages complexity through predictable, scheduled operations rather than ad-hoc processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism compares multiple determination results and uses this information to suppress erroneous determinations. This feedback loop improves reliability by filtering out temporary artifacts while managing complexity through a clear comparison and decision-making process.
3Measurement precision
If the observation area is determined quickly without multiple comparisons, then the productivity is high, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to vignetting effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent balances productivity and precision by performing determination processing periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This approach maintains processing efficiency while ensuring that multiple measurements are taken to achieve accurate observation area determination despite temporary vignetting effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism efficiently processes multiple determination results by comparing them and suppressing erroneous values. This feedback approach maintains productivity through automated comparison and decision-making while significantly improving measurement precision by eliminating the impact of temporary vignetting from high-luminance subjects or scope insertion.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes an imaging device to which an insertion unit is connected, the imaging device receiving light guided through the insertion unit by an image sensor to capture an image; and a control device that controls the imaging device, in which the control device includes one or more processors and one or more storage devices storing a program, and the processor executes the program to: determine a size of an observation area different from a vignetting area generated on the image sensor by the insertion unit at least twice or more; and perform parameter change processing based on a determination result on the basis of a comparison result of comparison of two or more determination results. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an endoscope system using a surgical endoscope.