Stereoscopic Endoscope Exposure Control for Luminance Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup systems for stereoscopic endoscopes face challenges in maintaining accurate exposure control when a treatment instrument like forceps enters the field of view, causing intense and bright light to be incident on one or both image pickup optical systems, leading to inconsistent luminance values and potential exposure time inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a light source control mechanism that adjusts the illumination light based on photometric values from both image pickup signals, either by selecting the higher photometric value or calculating an average, to maintain balanced exposure and prevent rapid changes in light intensity, ensuring consistent image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exposure time is controlled based on photometric values from image pickup signals, then exposure accuracy is improved, but when intense light is incident on one image pickup section, luminance values become inconsistent between left and right images
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses photometric measurement sections to detect brightness of object images from both image pickup sections, and the exposure control section adjusts exposure times based on this feedback. When intense light is incident on one section, the system detects the luminance difference and adjusts exposure parameters to maintain consistent luminance values between left and right images, resolving the contradiction between exposure accuracy and luminance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure control section dynamically changes exposure time parameters based on photometric values. When intense light is detected in one image pickup section, the system modifies the exposure time parameter to compensate for the luminance difference, ensuring consistent luminance values between stereo images while maintaining accurate exposure control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a light source control mechanism adjusts illumination light to maintain balanced exposure, then luminance consistency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated control sections: the exposure control section handles both exposure time adjustment and luminance consistency maintenance, while the light amount control section manages illumination light adjustment. This merging of functions reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate independent control mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure control section and light amount control section are designed to perform multiple functions: they control exposure based on photometric values, maintain luminance consistency between stereo images, and adjust illumination light intensity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated control components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving luminance consistency.
3Measurement precision
If photometric values from both image pickup sections are used for light amount control, then exposure control accuracy is improved, but response time may be delayed due to processing both signals
Solution Approach 1:
The photometric measurement sections continuously monitor and detect brightness of object images in advance, preparing photometric values before image pickup. This preliminary detection allows the exposure control section to immediately adjust exposure parameters when intense light is detected, maintaining accurate exposure control while minimizing response time delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously performs photometric measurement and adjusts exposure parameters in real-time during the imaging process. This continuous monitoring and adjustment ensures that exposure control accuracy is maintained while responding promptly to changes in lighting conditions, reducing the effective response time delay by eliminating idle periods between measurements.
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 allows for accurate exposure control of image pickup signals even when intense light is incident, reducing the impact on image quality and maintaining consistent luminance values between left and right image pickup signals.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to irradiate an object with illumination light
Implementation Method 2
a first image pickup device capable of picking up an optical image of the object and outputting the optical image as a first image pickup signal, a second image pickup device capable of picking up the optical image of the object and outputting the optical image as a second image pickup signal having a parallax from the first image pickup signal
Implementation Method 3
a first photometric measurement section configured to detect a brightness of an object image as a first photometric value for the first image pickup signal, a second photometric measurement section configured to detect a brightness of the object image as a second photometric value for the second image pickup signal
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup system includes a stereoscopic endoscope including image pickup optical systems having a parallax therebetween and a first image pickup device and a second image pickup device, and a processor including a first photometric measurement section configured to photometrically measure a luminance value of a first image pickup signal related to the first image pickup device, a second photometric measurement section configured to measure a luminance value of a second image pickup signal related to the second image pickup device, and a control section including a threshold value comparison section configured to compare the luminance value with a threshold value. When the luminance value of either one of the first image pickup signal and the second image pickup signal exceeds the threshold value, the image pickup system performs light adjustment control of a light source based on a photometric value of the other image pickup signal.