Patent US7901348B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0713672A2
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Endoscope
Assignee: Terumo Corp
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Filing: 1995-11-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope apparatus has an endoscope having an image guide (103) for guiding first and second image light components which have a parallax and can be separated from each other, a memory ( 114 ) for storing a predetermined coefficient (a) on the basis of the shape, length, and the like of the image guide (103), and CCDs ( 105 ) for converting the first and second image light components into first and second image signals (A, B). The apparatus performs image processing for generating first and second image data (L, R) by performing proportional distribution processing of the first and second image signals in accordance with the predetermined coefficient.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshihisa c/o Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Nakamura
- 👤 Tomohiko c/o Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Hattori
- 👤 Masahiro c/o Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Nudeshima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00193; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S600/00; Y10S600/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
An image processing apparatus for an endoscope having an optical system for transmitting first and second image light components, which have a parallax and can be separated from each other, characterized by comprising: conversion means for converting the first and second image light components into first and second image signals; and generation means for generating first and second image data by executing proportional distribution processing of the first and second image signals in accordance with a predetermined coefficient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system has an optical fiber, and the predetermined coefficient is expressed as a function of at least one of a material, diameter, and length of the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined coefficient is expressed as a function of at least one of the material, diameter, and length of the optical fiber, and a pressure externally applied to the optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined coefficient is stored in advance in storage means as a function value defined by a shape of the optical system as a parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises image pickup elements for converting the first and second image light components into the first and second image signals as electrical signals, and said generation means comprises: inverse conversion means for inversely converting the first and second image signals from said image pickup elements into first and second light intensity data representing light intensities; and means for performing the proportional distribution processing of the first and second light intensity data in accordance with the predetermined coefficient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second image light components in the optical system have substantially different polarization characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing or displaying the first and second image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
An endoscope system having an endoscope having an optical system for transmitting first and second image light components, which have a parallax and can be separated from each other, said system characterized by comprising: conversion means for converting the first and second image light components into first and second image signals; and generation means for generating first and second image data by executing proportional distribution processing of the first and second image signals in accordance with a predetermined coefficient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein the optical system has an optical fiber, and the predetermined coefficient is expressed as a function of at least one of a material, diameter, and length of the optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined coefficient is expressed as a function of at least one of the material, diameter, and length of the optical fiber, and a pressure externally applied to the optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined coefficient is stored in advance in storage means as a function value defined by a shape of the optical system as a parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said conversion means comprises image pickup elements for converting the first and second image light components into the first and second image signals as electrical signals, and said generation means comprises: inverse conversion means for inversely converting the first and second image signals from said image pickup elements into first and second light intensity data representing light intensities; and means for performing the proportional distribution processing of the first and second light intensity data in accordance with the predetermined coefficient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein the first and second image light components in the optical system have substantially different polarization characteristics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 8, further comprising means for storing or displaying the first and second image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light input portion comprises a pair of filters which are arranged at or near an effective center in an optical axis direction as an aperture position of the observation lens, have different azimuth angles of polarization, and are divisionally arranged on right and left regions of a surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein each of said pair of polarization filters has a semi-circular shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light output portion comprises: polarization axis rotation means for time-divisionally rotating axes of polarization of two polarized light images transmitted through said optical fiber; and an analyzer arranged behind said polarization axis rotation means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light output portion comprises: a beam splitter for splitting optical paths of two polarized light images transmitted through said optical fiber; and a pair of polarization filters which respectively transmit the split polarized light images and have different azimuth angles of polarization.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light output portion comprises a pair of polarization filters which are arranged adjacent to each other at a position near an exit of said optical fiber, and have different azimuth angles of polarization to respectively transmit two polarized light images from said optical fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light output portion comprises a plurality of first polarization filters and a plurality of second polarization filters, which have different azimuth angles of polarization so as to respectively transmit two polarized light images from said optical fiber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 13, further comprising a light guide disposed near the optical system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and said light output portion comprises: an illumination light source arranged near said light output portion; and means for guiding illumination light from said illumination light source toward an exit side associated with polarized light images of said optical fiber, whereby said optical fiber serves as a bidirectional optical fiber, and is used as a light guide for illuminating an object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises an optical fiber, a light input portion arranged at a distal end portion of said optical fiber, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end portion of said optical fiber, and the optical system further comprises an image reflection member at a distal end of said light input portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said image reflection member comprises one of a mirror surface and a prism having a mirror surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein said optical system comprises an imaging member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the optical system of said endoscope comprises a light transmission path consisting of a relay lens, a light input portion arranged at a distal end side of said light transmission path, and a light output portion arranged at a proximal end side of said light transmission path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 13, further comprising a pair of solid-state image pickup elements arranged behind the optical system of said endoscope.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of controlling an endoscope having an optical system for transmitting first and second image light components, which have a parallax and can be separated from each other, comprising the steps of: converting the first and second image light components into first and second image signals by controlling image pickup elements; and generating first and second image data by performing proportional distribution processing of the first and second image signals on the basis of conversion characteristics of the image pickup elements and a predetermined coefficient representing a shape of the optical system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein the predetermined coefficient is stored as a value corresponding to a geometric shape of the optical system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
90 words
An endoscope for guiding, along a single optical path, two polarized light images obtained by splitting image light incident via an observation lens, and using the two polarized light images as two parallax images, comprising: equalizer means, arranged in front of the observation lens, for equalizing two polarized light components in incident light; and optical means for splitting the incident light with the two equalized polarized light components into two polarized light images, whereby intensities of the two parallax images obtained from said optical means are equal to each other.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said equalizer means eliminates polarization characteristics of the incident light.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said equalizer means comprises means for rotating a polarizing angle of the incident light.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
73 words
An endoscope according to claim 32, wherein said equalizer means comprises first and second light transmitting elements having equal areas, and a shift amount upon shifting of a phase of an azimuth angle of polarization of transmission light by said second light transmitting element is 90° out of phase from a shift amount upon shifting of a phase of an azimuth angle of polarization of transmission light by said first light transmitting element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope according to claim 33, wherein said first light transmitting element comprises a λ/2 phase shifter, and said second light transmitting element comprises a semi-circular light transmitting plate which does not change a phase.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope according to claim 34, wherein a division line of the first and second light transmitting elements is perpendicular to a split direction of said optical means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope according to claim 34, wherein a division line of the first and second light transmitting elements is parallel to a split direction of said optical means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
73 words
An endoscope according to claim 32, wherein said equalizer means comprises first and second light transmitting elements having equal areas, and a shift amount upon shifting of a phase of an azimuth angle of polarization of transmission light by said first light transmitting element is 90° out of phase from a shift amount upon shifting of a phase of an azimuth angle of polarization of transmission light by said second light transmitting element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope according to claim 15, further comprising a mark which is arranged in the optical path of the endoscope and indicates a direction of a split line of said polarization filters.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said optical means comprises: a pair of polarization filters which are abut with each other, and a mark which is arranged in the optical path of the endoscope and indicates a direction of a split line of said polarization filters.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 13, further comprising equalizer means, arranged in front of an observation lens, for equalizing two polarized light components in incident light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
74 words
An endoscope comprising: a polarization filter which is split into two portions by a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a single optical path so as to guide two polarized light images obtained by splitting image light incident via an observation lens along the optical path; and a mark which is arranged in the optical path and indicates a direction of a split line for splitting said polarization filter into the two portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH0567931A
Cited
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