Light Source Control for Vocal Cord Strobe Observation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscope systems used for observing vocal cords, existing techniques face challenges in maintaining image quality during strobe observation due to asynchronous illumination and image reading timings, leading to variations in brightness and exposure amounts, especially when vocal cord frequencies are low or high, resulting in unexposed frames or insufficient light emission reduction.
Innovation Solution
A light source control device that detects vocal cord frequency and adjusts pulse light emission frequency or width based on image brightness, changing the light emission frequency when the frequency is high and prohibiting changes while adjusting pulse width when the frequency is low, to optimize strobe observation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the number of pulses is thinned to reduce light emission amount, then dimming effect is achieved, but unexposed frames are generated when vocal cord frequency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the pulse light emission frequency based on the detected vocal cord frequency. When vocal cord frequency is high, the system increases the pulse light emission frequency to maintain synchronization, preventing unexposed frames. When vocal cord frequency is low, the system reduces the pulse light emission frequency to achieve dimming while still ensuring complete frame coverage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between dimming effectiveness and frame exposure completeness.
2Illumination intensity
If the pulse width is shortened to reduce light emission amount, then dimming effect is achieved, but the light emission cycle is quickly reached and light emission amount is not sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes periodic action by adjusting the emission frequency of pulse light to match the vocal cord vibration frequency. Instead of merely shortening pulse width, the system varies the period between pulses based on detected vocal cord frequency. This allows sufficient dimming effect while maintaining adequate light emission cycles, as the pulse frequency is optimized to coincide with the natural vibration cycle of the vocal cords, ensuring both dimming effectiveness and operational sustainability.
3Manufacturing precision
If pulse light emission frequency is changed to match vocal cord frequency, then image quality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects the vocal cord frequency from the captured images and automatically adjusts the pulse light emission frequency accordingly. The image processing unit analyzes the images to determine vocal cord vibration characteristics, and this information feeds back to the light source control to optimize the pulse emission timing. This closed-loop feedback system improves image quality by synchronizing light emission with vocal cord vibration while automating the complexity management through algorithmic control rather than manual adjustment.
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
This approach ensures optimal image quality by adjusting light emission parameters according to vocal cord frequency, preventing unexposed frames and achieving adequate dimming regardless of frequency, while also avoiding color temperature changes and reducing the need for mechanical diaphragms, thus enhancing the system's efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor that generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting received light
Data Source
AI summary
A light source control device includes: a light source configured to intermittently emit pulse light; and a hardware processor configured to detect a vocal cord vibrational frequency of a subject based on a voice signal input from an external device, determine whether or not the vocal cord frequency is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and change a light emission frequency of the pulse light in one frame period based on image brightness based on an image signal when the vocal cord frequency is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and prohibit change in the light emission frequency and change the pulse width of the pulse light emitted by the light source based on the image brightness when the vocal cord frequency is not equal to or greater than the threshold value.