Synchronization Signal Regeneration in Endoscope Image Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope image pickup systems face challenges in maintaining synchronization signal integrity over long distances due to noise interference, which affects image quality and requires advanced noise countermeasures as cable diameters decrease.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with a reception portion that detects and calculates the average period of received synchronization signals, generating a second synchronization signal based on this calculation to reduce noise distortion, allowing the image pickup device to track and stabilize the synchronization signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable is used to transmit synchronization signals over long distances between the processor and image pickup device, then the system can maintain functional connectivity, but noise interference distorts the synchronization signal and degrades image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary synchronization signal generation unit within the image pickup device that receives the distorted synchronization signal from the cable, processes it through a phase-locked loop circuit to regenerate a clean synchronization signal, and uses this regenerated signal to control the image pickup device. This intermediary approach isolates the system from cable-transmitted noise while maintaining proper synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a phase-locked loop circuit that continuously monitors the received synchronization signal, compares its phase and frequency with the internally generated signal, and adjusts the internal signal to match. This feedback mechanism automatically compensates for noise-induced distortions and maintains accurate synchronization despite cable transmission issues.
2Ease of operation
If the cable diameter is reduced to improve flexibility and ease of operation, then the endoscope becomes more manageable, but noise interference increases and synchronization signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By placing a synchronization signal regeneration unit inside the image pickup device, the system can use thinner, more flexible cables without compromising signal quality. The intermediary unit cleans up any noise introduced by the reduced-diameter cable, allowing the cable to be optimized for flexibility rather than signal transmission quality.
3Reliability
If synchronization signal generation is placed in the distal end portion of the endoscope to improve reliability, then the system becomes more robust against cable noise, but the device complexity increases due to additional components in the distal end
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places a relatively simple synchronization signal regeneration unit (phase-locked loop circuit) in the distal end image pickup device, rather than a complete synchronization signal generation system. This intermediary unit has fewer components than full generation means but provides sufficient noise immunity by regenerating clean synchronization signals from the received signals.
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup device for picking up an image of an object; a reception portion that is provided in a processor including a signal processing portion processes an image signal obtained by picking up the object with the image pickup device, and that receives a first synchronization signal generated in a first synchronization signal generation portion and is transmitted through a cable; a calculation portion that sequentially detects a plurality of periods of the first synchronization signal that the reception portion receives, and carries out processing to perform a calculation that determines an average value of the detected plurality of periods of the first synchronization signal; and a second synchronization signal generation portion that generates a second synchronization signal taking a value based on a calculation result of the calculation portion as a period, and supplies the second synchronization signal to the image pickup device.