YCbCr Pulsed Illumination for Endoscopic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic imaging systems face challenges in achieving high definition video with reduced complexity and cost, particularly in small diameter endoscopes, due to motion artifacts caused by reconstructing full color images from separate snapshots and the need for spatial resolution prioritization between luminance and chrominance components.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a CMOS sensor with high-speed readout and controlled monochromatic light pulsing, using combinations of red, green, and blue wavelengths to provide luminance information in a single frame, while deriving chrominance information from separate frames, allowing for reduced pixel count and physical space, and adjusting exposure periods to extend dynamic range and minimize motion artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If separate snapshots are used to reconstruct full color images, then chrominance information can be captured, but motion artifacts increase and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed illumination at different wavelengths (e.g., red, green, blue) to capture luminance and chrominance information in an interleaved temporal sequence. By pulsing the light source periodically at specific duty cycles and intervals, the system captures Y (luminance), Cb (chrominance blue), and Cr (chrominance red) components in alternating frames, enabling reconstruction of full-color video while minimizing motion artifacts through synchronized temporal sampling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing luminance information during the illumination pulse and chrominance information during the non-illumination period (or using reference frames). This preliminary capture of separate components allows the system to reconstruct full-color images afterward without requiring all components to be captured simultaneously, thereby reducing motion artifacts while preserving chrominance information
2Measurement precision
If spatial resolution is prioritized for luminance over chrominance, then luminance quality improves, but chrominance detail is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data into separate luminance (Y) and chrominance (Cb, Cr) components that are captured and processed independently. By separating these components in the YCbCr color space, the system can apply different spatial resolution treatments to each: high spatial resolution for luminance to maintain image sharpness, and lower spatial resolution for chrominance where detail is less critical to human perception, thereby optimizing overall image quality while reducing data requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different spatial resolution characteristics to different components of the image. Specifically, luminance information is captured and reconstructed with high spatial detail, while chrominance information is captured with lower spatial detail. This differential treatment matches human visual perception, which is more sensitive to luminance variations than chrominance variations, allowing the system to prioritize luminance quality without significantly perceived loss of overall image quality
3Ease of manufacture
If pixel count is reduced to lower cost and complexity, then manufacturing cost decreases, but image quality and resolution may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed illumination at different wavelengths to capture luminance and chrominance information in alternating frames. This temporal multiplexing approach allows a reduced pixel count sensor to capture sufficient information for high-definition video by relying on time-separated sampling rather than requiring all color components to be captured simultaneously by every pixel, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the imaging task into separate luminance and chrominance capture operations performed at different times. This segmentation allows the use of a monochrome or reduced-color sensor with fewer pixels, as the system reconstructs full-color information by combining luminance data from one frame with chrominance data from reference frames or adjacent frames, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving HD video quality
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 enables high-definition video with reduced pixel count, minimizing motion artifacts and maintaining spatial resolution, particularly beneficial for small diameter endoscopes by fusing data from multiple frames effectively.
Implementation Method 1
sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation from said pulses with a pixel array to create a plurality of image frames
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments with luminance and chrominance emitted from a controlled light source.