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US4719508A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Endoscopic photographing apparatus

Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1986-10-01
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Granted: 1988-01-12
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Expires: 2006-10-01
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Abstract

Abstract An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprises a first frame memory for successively storing the image signals, generated from a solid-state image sensor with every scanning line, in synchronism with drive signals, and a second frame memory for successively storing the image signals, read successively from the first frame memory, by the interlacing method, and delivering the stored image signals to a monitor, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals, for display.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masahiko Sasaki
  • 👤 Shinichi Kato
  • 👤 Tadashi Kato
  • 👤 Masahide Kanno
  • 👤 Yutaka Takahashi
  • 👤 Katsuyuki Saito

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0117; H04N7/012; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/478

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line; first memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor; first readout means for successively reading the image signals from the first memory means by the interlacing method; second memory means for successively storing the image signals, read by the readout means, by the interlacing method; and an output section including second readout means for reading the image signals from the second memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 106 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line; first memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor; first readout means for successively reading the image signals from the first memory means by the interlacing method; second memory means for successively storing the image signals, read by the readout means, by the interlacing method; and an output section including second readout means for reading the image signals from the second memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image signal circuit means includes said image sensor for successively delivering R, G and B color image signals, and pre-processor means for processing the color image signals from said image sensor, and delivering output signals to said first memory means, connected to the second memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first memory means includes a plurality of first frame memories for individually storing the R, G and B color image signals from said image signal circuit means, and delivering the color image signals to the second memory means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second memory means includes a plurality of second frame memories for individually storing the R, G and B color image signals from the first frame memories.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 69 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pre-processor means includes means for wave-shaping the image signals from the image sensor and delivering pulse signals, delay means for delaying the pulse signals from the wave-shaping means, in accordance with the length of the endoscope, and delivering delayed pulse signals, and means for sampling the image signals in synchronism with the delayed pulse signals from the delay means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 71 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output section includes character information output means for delivering character information on the image signals, character information mixing means for mixing the image signals read by said second readout means with the character information from said character information output means, and delivering character-mixed image signals, and monitor means for displaying the character-mixed image slgnals from the mixing means, as an image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said character information output means includes output means for delivering guidance information for the required character information, and means for erasing the guidance information, in response to the input of the character information corresponding to the guidance information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 176 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line; light source means including light source means, supplied with electric power from a power source, and adapted to emit an illumination light to be supplied to the endoscope, and turning-on circuit means for lighting the light source means; character information means supplied and stored with character information; CPU means for controlling the character information means and said light source means; means for resetting the CPU means in response to the start of said power supply and the actuation of said turning-on circuit means; means for storing turning-on start information in response to the actuation of the turning-on circuit means; means for holding the character information in response to the turning-on start information; memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor; and an output section for reading the image signals from said memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 176 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line; light source means including light source means, supplied with electric power from a power source, and adapted to emit an illumination light to be supplied to the endoscope, and turning-on circuit means for lighting the light source means; character information means supplied and stored with character information; CPU means for controlling the character information means and said light source means; means for resetting the CPU means in response to the start of said power supply and the actuation of said turning-on circuit means; means for storing turning-on start information in response to the actuation of the turning-on circuit means; means for holding the character information in response to the turning-on start information; memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor; and an output section for reading the image signals from said memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4253447A Cited
US4335395A Cited
US4593313A Cited
US4532546A Cited
US4633303A Cited
US4654701A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-01-11 1991-07-13 1992-01-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-01-11 1995-07-13 1996-01-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-01-11 1999-07-13 2000-01-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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