Patent classifications
H04N23/555
SMART AND COMPACT IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICES FOR IN VIVO IMAGING
A novel in-vivo image capture device for capsule endoscope and its method of operation are described. The device includes a wafer level camera module design, high sensitivity backside illumination pixel with high definition image output and LED's to provide illumination, which is synchronized with an image sensor strobe signal. A frame rate of the device can be adjusted based on an angular motion detection from a gyroscope sensor, in which a high frame rate mode is maintained during fast motion while a low frame rate is maintained during slow or no motion. The image capture device also includes machine learning based SOC for image processing, enhancement, and compression. The SOC can process and store zone average of images. The image capture device also includes a high density flash storage to store images in the device, thus no RF transmitter is needed, which make the system more convenient to use.
Method and Apparatus of Image Adjustment for Gastrointestinal Tract Images
A method for imaging a patient's gastrointestinal tract using a capsule camera and a patient positioning system are disclosed. According to the method, the capsule camera is administered to a patient by swallowing the capsule camera through patient's mouth. For each target examination position selected from a set of examination positions: the patient positioning system is adjusted to a target positioner bed position associated with the target examination position with the patient on the positioner be. Adjusting patient positioning system comprises adjusting the positioner bed to tilt at a tilt angle, and wherein the set of examination positions comprises at least two different tilt angles; and the patient positioning system still is held at the target examination position for a pre-defined period of dwelling time to allow the capsule camera to capture stable pictures. Image data captured by the capsule camera are then collected.
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of element arrays, a signal-processing circuit, and a comparison-voltage generation circuit. Each element array is selectively connected to a vertical signal line and includes an amplification transistor configured to output a first analog signal on the basis of an input analog voltage and an actual value of variation of a characteristic value of each element array included in the plurality of element arrays. The comparison-voltage generation circuit is configured to output a gradually increasing or gradually decreasing comparison voltage. The signal-processing circuit includes a storage circuit and is configured to compare the first analog signal with the comparison voltage and store a timing at which the comparison voltage and a value of a second analog signal generated by adding a predetermined absolute value to the first analog signal match each other onto the storage circuit.
Noise aware edge enhancement in a pulsed fluorescence imaging system
Fluorescence imaging with reduced fixed pattern noise is disclosed. A method includes actuating an emitter to emit a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation and sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation resulting from the plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor to generate a plurality of exposure frames. The method includes applying edge enhancement to edges within an exposure frame of the plurality of exposure frames. The method is such that at least a portion of the plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 770 nm to about 790 nm.
CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SUPPORTING LESION DIAGNOSIS
Provided are a capsule endoscope apparatus for supporting a lesion diagnosis and a lesion diagnosis supporting method using the same. The capsule endoscope apparatus for supporting lesion diagnosis includes an imaging unit configured to capture one or more images of an inside of a body, a control unit configured to detect a suspected lesion region in the images and perform a precision diagnosis procedure when a suspected lesion region corresponding to a value equal to or greater than a certain threshold is detected, an image processing unit configured to process the images in the precision diagnosis procedure, and a communication module configured to transmit and receive processed images to another capsule endoscope apparatus or a terminal by using a wireless communication method.
Endoscope and endoscope assembly
An endoscope assembly has an endoscope, having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, wherein the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit, an illumination unit having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide, and an image capturing unit having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.
Endoscope apparatus, endoscope, and image generation method
An endoscope apparatus includes a compression processing control unit configured to carry out a compression processing of compressing image data by using a compression parameter to generate compressed data, a monitor that is a display unit configured to display a display image corresponding to the image data, an information quantity detection unit configured to detect a quantity of information on an object contained in the image data, and a judgement unit configured to carry out a judgement processing of judging whether or not a judgement value corresponding to the quantity of information is smaller than a predetermined threshold. The image pickup of the object and the generation of the image data are continuously performed multiple times, and the judgement processing is carried out whenever the image data is generated. The compression parameter and the display image are determined based on a result of the judgement processing.
Subsurface formation imaging
A method includes generating a set of sub-images of a subsurface formation based on measurement values acquired by a plurality of sensors corresponding to one or more signals that have propagated through the subsurface formation, wherein each of the set of sub-images correspond to one of the plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are on a tool in a borehole, wherein each of the plurality of sensors are at different spatial positions with respect to each other. The method also includes generating a combined image by aligning the set of sub-images based on the measurement values, wherein the aligning of the set of sub-images is independent of acceleration of the tool during tool motion.
Surgical camera system with high dynamic range
An endoscopic camera device having an optical assembly; a first image sensor in optical communication with the optical assembly, the first image sensor receiving a first exposure and transmitting a first low dynamic range image; a second image sensor in optical communication with the optical assembly, the second image sensor receiving a second exposure and transmitting a second low dynamic range image, the second exposure being higher than the first exposure; and a processor for receiving the first low dynamic range image and the second low dynamic range image; wherein the processor is configured to combine the first low dynamic range image and the second dynamic range image into a high dynamic range image using a luminosity value derived as a preselected percentage of a cumulative luminosity distribution of at least one of the first low dynamic range image and the second low dynamic range image.
Endoscope
An endoscope includes a scope provided with a hard portion at a distal end of a long flexible portion having flexibility; an image capturing portion housed in the hard portion and having an image sensor; a transmission cable inserted into the scope and conductively connected to the image sensor at a distal end via a substrate, and a voltage conversion device mounted on the substrate and outputting a constant voltage to the image sensor with respect to a input voltage input to the transmission cable.