Pixel Group Exposure Control for Endoscopic Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical imaging systems often produce endoscopic images with blown-out highlights or blocked-up shadows, making it difficult for doctors to observe the intended regions, and equipping the system with multiple imaging elements of different sensitivities complicates the structure.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging apparatus with a mode setting unit that adjusts the driving mode of the imaging unit to one of three modes: normal, HDR, or high-sensitivity, allowing for equal exposure times or varying exposure times within groups of pixels to optimize image quality and reduce the need for multiple sensitive elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plurality of imaging elements having different sensitivities are equipped in the system, then the problem of blown-out highlights and blocked-up shadows is solved, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit is segmented into multiple pixel groups (first pixel group and second pixel group), where each group has different exposure time settings. This segmentation allows different regions of the imaging sensor to capture light for different durations, enabling simultaneous capture of both bright and dark regions without requiring multiple separate imaging elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different exposure times are applied to different pixel groups based on local image characteristics. The first pixel group uses a first exposure time while the second pixel group uses a second exposure time, allowing each region to be optimized for its local brightness conditions. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing quality optimization without system complexity.
2Device complexity
If exposure time is set equally for all pixels, then the system structure remains simple, but images with bright portions form blown-out highlights and dark portions form blocked-up shadows
Solution Approach 1:
The exposure time setting is made dynamic and adaptive rather than static and uniform. The imaging controller dynamically adjusts exposure times for different pixel groups based on histogram analysis of the captured image data. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain simple structure while achieving high image quality through flexible, condition-based parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure time parameter is changed differently for different pixel groups based on image characteristics. By varying the exposure time parameter across pixel groups rather than maintaining a uniform value, the system achieves improved image quality while keeping the hardware structure simple. The parameter change is driven by histogram analysis and controlled by the imaging controller.
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
Enables the display of suitable images for observation by dynamically adjusting the exposure modes based on histogram analysis, improving convenience and simplifying the system structure.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit (54) including a plurality of pixels (Pi) arranged in a matrix
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; a mode setting unit; and an imaging controller configured to drive the imaging unit in accordance with a driving mode set with the mode setting unit. The first driving mode sets exposure time of all pixels to an equal time, and outputs each of pixel signals as a pixel signal of one pixel. The second driving mode divides all the pixels into groups, setting at least one of all the pixels included in the group to have an exposure time different from an exposure time of the other pixels, and outputting, for each of the groups, an addition pixel signal as a pixel signal of one pixel. The third driving mode sets exposure time of all the pixels to an equal time, and outputs, for each of the groups, an addition pixel signal as a pixel signal of one pixel.