Wireless Endoscope Dual-Channel Image Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless endoscope systems face limitations in movement range and operability due to the need for compressed video transmission, and there is a requirement for high-resolution still-image data for detailed review, which existing technologies do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an endoscope with an imaging unit, moving-image and still-image generation units, and wireless communication units that sequentially change wireless channels to transmit test data for quality assessment and high-resolution still-image data, while using a different channel for moving-image data transmission, allowing for improved communication quality and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If compressed video transmission is used in wireless endoscope systems, then transmission bandwidth is reduced and power consumption is lowered, but image quality and resolution are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides image data transmission into two separate segments: compressed moving-image data for real-time observation and uncompressed still-image data for detailed review. This segmentation allows each data type to be optimized independently, with still images maintaining high quality without compression while videos use compression for efficient transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dual wireless communication unit system where the first wireless communication unit transmits compressed video data and the second wireless communication unit transmits uncompressed still-image data. This intermediary structure enables simultaneous transmission of different data types with different compression requirements through separate communication channels.
2Device complexity
If a single wireless channel is used for both video and still-image transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but communication quality and stability deteriorate due to channel conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two independent wireless communication units operating on different channels. The first wireless communication unit is dedicated to video data transmission while the second wireless communication unit handles still-image data transmission, eliminating channel conflicts and ensuring stable communication for both data types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-channel communication system to a multi-channel communication system by introducing a second wireless communication unit operating on a different frequency channel. This dimensional expansion in the frequency domain allows simultaneous transmission of video and still-image data without interference.
3Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution still-image data is transmitted uncompressed, then image quality for review is improved, but transmission bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates still-image data transmission from video data transmission, allocating dedicated bandwidth in the second wireless communication unit for uncompressed still images. This segmentation ensures that high-resolution still images receive sufficient bandwidth without competing with video transmission resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compression parameter for still images by transmitting them in an uncompressed state, unlike video data which uses compression. This parameter change prioritizes image quality for still images, ensuring they maintain full resolution suitable for detailed medical review.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes an imaging unit configured to image a subject and output image data, a moving-image generation unit configured to generate moving-image data from the image data output from the imaging unit, a still-image generation unit configured to generate still-image data from the image data output from the imaging unit, a release instruction unit configured to receive an image-recording instruction from a user, a first wireless communication unit configured to sequentially change a wireless channel to transmit test data and transmit the still-image data to the reception device when the release instruction unit receives the image-recording instruction, a second wireless communication unit configured to transmit the moving-image data to the reception device using a wireless channel different from the wireless channel currently used by the first wireless communication unit, and a first setting unit configured to set a wireless channel determined from communication quality information.