Position-Dependent Scaling for Endoscope Distortion Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide-angle optical systems used in endoscope devices suffer from distortion, leading to unclear peripheral areas and reduced image resolution, making it difficult to observe lesions in challenging anatomical regions like the large intestine.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with an image sensor having more pixels than the scaled image, employing a scaling process that uses different scaling factors based on the position within the image to correct distortion, specifically enlarging low-magnification areas and reducing high-magnification areas, thereby maintaining high resolution and clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle optical system is used to increase the angle of view, then the ability to observe large areas is improved, but image distortion increases and peripheral areas become unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different scaling factors to different regions of the image based on their local magnification characteristics. The scaling section performs scaling processing with position-dependent scaling factors, where central regions use one scaling factor and peripheral regions use another, thereby optimizing image quality locally in each region while maintaining overall wide-angle coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scaling parameter dynamically based on position within the image. The scaling section varies the scaling factor according to the local magnification at different positions, transforming the image processing parameters to compensate for optical distortion and maintain consistent image quality across the entire field of view
2Device complexity
If uniform scaling is applied to the entire image, then processing simplicity is maintained, but distortion correction effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements region-specific scaling where different portions of the image receive different scaling treatments. The scaling section divides the image into regions with different local magnification characteristics and applies appropriate scaling factors to each region, achieving effective distortion correction without requiring overly complex processing
3Quantity of substance
If the number of pixels in the scaled image matches the image sensor pixels, then data efficiency is maintained, but the ability to correct peripheral distortion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an additional dimension of control by using position-dependent scaling factors rather than a single uniform factor. This allows the system to maintain the original pixel count while varying the scaling intensity across different spatial positions, thereby correcting peripheral distortion without changing the overall image dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
The imaging device includes an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels that generate an image signal from an object image that is formed by an imaging optical system, a scaling section that performs a scaling process on an original image that includes image signals that correspond to the plurality of pixels, and an output section that outputs an image after the scaling process as a scaled image, the scaling section performing the scaling process using a different scaling factor corresponding to the position of a pixel of interest within the scaled image, and the image sensor including pixels in a number larger than the number of pixels of the scaled image as the plurality of pixels.