Imaging System Illumination Control for Vocal Cord Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscope systems experience image blurring when capturing vocal cord motion due to intermittent illumination with strobe light, as the light is emitted at different phases relative to the vocal cord frequency, leading to inconsistent illumination during the exposure and readout periods.

Innovation Solution

An imaging system that includes a light source, an imager using a rolling shutter method, a frequency detector to synchronize illumination with the vocal cord frequency, and an illumination controller that sets a consistent phase for illumination during exposure and adjusts emission timing based on previous frames to minimize blurring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If strobe light is emitted at different phases relative to vocal cord frequency, then multiple vocal cord positions can be captured in one frame, but image blurring occurs due to inconsistent illumination timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to capture multiple vocal cord positionsVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination light is emitted periodically at a frequency synchronized with the vocal cord vibration frequency. The illumination controller sets the emission timing to occur at identical phases relative to the vocal cord frequency across multiple exposure periods, creating a periodic illumination pattern that captures consistent vocal cord positions without blurring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the illumination timing parameters by detecting the vocal cord vibration frequency and adjusting the phase of illumination emission accordingly. By modifying the emission timing to occur at identical phases relative to the detected frequency, the system maintains image clarity while capturing vocal cord motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If illumination light is emitted at identical phases in each frame, then image blurring is suppressed, but the ability to capture vocal cord motion dynamics is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage clarityVSAvoidability to capture vocal cord motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic illumination emission synchronized with the vocal cord vibration frequency. By emitting light at regular intervals corresponding to the vibration cycle, the system captures consistent images that reflect the periodic nature of vocal cord motion, maintaining both clarity and motion representation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination controller uses feedback from the detected vocal cord vibration frequency to adjust and maintain identical emission phases. The system continuously monitors the vibration frequency and uses this information to synchronize illumination timing, ensuring that emission occurs at the optimal phase for capturing vocal cord motion without blurring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If multiple illumination emissions occur in one frame period, then vocal cord motion can be captured, but image blurring increases due to phase shifts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevocal cord motion capture rateVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic illumination emission at the vocal cord vibration frequency, where multiple emissions occur within a frame period but are synchronized to identical phases. This periodic pattern allows capturing multiple motion states while maintaining image clarity through phase consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameters of illumination emission by detecting the vocal cord frequency and adjusting emission phases to be identical across multiple exposures. This parameter adjustment enables high-speed motion capture while preventing blurring through synchronized timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11503990B2Imaging system, processing device and illumination control method to set emission timing of illumination light in readout period of signal value of imager

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An imaging system includes: a light source configured to emit illumination light; an imager configured to store an electric charge corresponding to an amount of received light and read out the stored electric charge as a signal value by using a rolling shutter method; a frequency detector configured to detect a vibrational frequency of a predetermined site of a subject; and an illumination controller configured to control emission of the illumination light during a readout period of the signal value. The illumination controller is configured to set a phase for an emission timing of the illumination light in an exposure period during which the imager stores the electric charge to be an identical phase at the frequency in each frame, and refer to respective phases set in exposure periods of chronologically adjacent frames to set an emission timing of the illumination light in the readout period.