US4855819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope imaging system for use with multiple color imaging systems
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1988-01-29
•
Granted: 1989-08-08
•
Expires: 2008-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A system comprising a frame sequential type color imaging device, a color imaging device provided with a color filter, an illuminating light outputting device which can output illuminating lights corresponding to these different color imaging devices, a signal processing device processing the signals corresponding to the respective color imaging devices and a color monitor displaying the processed color video signals so that any color imaging device can be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroki Hibino
- 👤 Kenji Kimura
- 👤 Masahide Kanno
- 👤 Toshiaki Nishikori
- 👤 Jun Yoshinaga
- 👤 Atsushi Kidawara
- 👤 Hisao Yabe
- 👤 Shinichi Katou
- 👤 Koji Takamura
- 👤 Takeaki Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00105; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/10; H04N23/125; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; H04N23/555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 69
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with said color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means and signal processing means either of which is provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with said color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means and signal processing means either of which is provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means outputting a white light corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter; a signal processing means provided with a function of processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a function of processing the signal corresponding to a frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means outputting a white light corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter; a signal processing means provided with a function of processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a function of processing the signal corresponding to a frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means provided with a function of outputting a white light corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a function of outputting a frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series; a signal processing means processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means provided with a function of outputting a white light corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a function of outputting a frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series; a signal processing means processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means outputting frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series; a signal processing means provided with a function of processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means and a function of processing the signal corresponding to a color imaging means provided with a color filter; a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means outputting frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series; a signal processing means provided with a function of processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means and a function of processing the signal corresponding to a color imaging means provided with a color filter; a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means for selectively outputting a frame sequential light, in wavelength ranges different form each other in time series, and a white light; a signal processing means processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device not fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light outputting means for selectively outputting a frame sequential light, in wavelength ranges different form each other in time series, and a white light; a signal processing means processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means; and a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; a signal processing means provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means; and a housing means including said light output means and said signal processing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
An endoscope imaging system comprising: a color imaging means provided with a color filter using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a frame sequential type color imaging means using a solid state imaging device fitted with a color separating color filter in front of an imaging part having a photoelectric converting function; a light output means provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; a signal processing means provided with functions corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means; a color monitoring means color-displaying predetermined color video signals output from said signal processing means; and a housing means including said light output means and said signal processing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said light outputting means is provided with both functions of a white light outputting means outputting a white light and a frame sequential type light outputting means outputting an illuminating light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 2 wherein said light outputting means has a function of outputting a frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 4 wherein said light outputting means has a function of outputting a white light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said signal processing means has a function of processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a function of processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5, 9, 7 or 6 wherein an optical endoscope can be fitted to an outputting end of said light outputting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
An endoscope system according to any of claims 2, 4 or 10 wherein said signal processing means has a common signal connector receptacle connectable with signal connectors fitted respectively to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential type color imaging means and said light outputting means has individual light source connector receptacles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any of claims 2, 4 or 10 wherein said signal processing means is formed of a first kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a second kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope system according to claim 13 wherein, of said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part, one signal processing part can be fitted to the other signal processing part.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope system according to claim 14 wherein a first housing containing said one signal processing part can be fitted to a fitting port provided on a second housing containing said other signal processing part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscope system according to claim 14 wherein said first housing containing said one signal processing part can be fitted to the side of said second housing containing said other signal processing part.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope system according to claim 15 wherein said fitting port is provided on the front surface of said second housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope system according to claim 15 herein said fitting port is provided on the back surface of said second housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 13 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part are contained in the same housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope system according to claim 19 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part have at least the output end in common.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 19 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part output NTSC system color video signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope system according to claim 13 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part have a common circuit having a part of the formation circuit in common.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope system according to claim 22 wherein said common circuit has a freezing frame memory.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 22 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part output NTSC system color video signals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 6 wherein said color imaging means provided with a color filter is contained in the tip side of an elongate insertable part of an electronic scope.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any of claims 1, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said frame sequential type color imaging means is contained in the tip side of an elongate insertable part of an electronic scope.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 6 wherein said color imaging means provided with said color filter is contained within a television camera fittable to an eyepiece part of an optical endoscope having an image guide.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 27 wherein said optical endoscope is a fiber scope in which said image guide is formed of a fiber bundle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 27 wherein said optical endoscope is a rigid endoscope in which said image guide is formed of a relay optical system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
An endoscope imaging system according to any of claims 1, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said frame sequential type color imaging means is contained within a television camera fittable to an eyepiece part of an optical endoscope having an image guide.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 30 wherein said optical endoscope is a fiber scope in which said image guide is formed of a fiber bundle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 30 wherein said optical endoscope is a rigid endoscope in which said image guide is formed of a relay optical system.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endoscope system according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein said light outputting means and said signal processing means are contained within the same housing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endoscope system according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said light outputting means and said signal processing means are contained respectively within separate housings.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
An endoscope system according to any of claims 3, 5, 8 or 9 wherein said light outputting means has a common light source connector receptacle outputting selectively said frame sequential light and said white light and said signal processing means has individual signal connector receptacles.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 8 further comprising a frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 9 further comprising a color imaging means provided with a color filter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope system according to claim 36 or 37 wherein said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential color imaging means have type signal generating means outputting type signals different from each other.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope system according to claim 38 wherein said light outputting means has a switching means capable of outputting selectively said frame sequential light and said white light.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 39 wherein said signal processing means has a means for discriminating said type signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 40 wherein said switching means is switched by the discriminating signal by said type signal discriminating means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
54 words
An endoscope system according to claim 38 wherein said signal processing means is formed of a first kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a second kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope system according to claim 42 wherein said signal processing means has a type signal discriminating means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 43 further comprising a switching means switching selectively said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope system according to claim 44 wherein said signal type discriminating means discriminates type signals and switches said switching means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 6, wherein said light outputting means and said signal processing means each having a common light source connector receptacle and a common signal connector receptacle.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 11 wherein said light outputting means outputs a white light when said optical endoscope is fitted to the system.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 6 wherein said light outputting means has a function of outputting a frame sequential light in wavelength ranges different from each other in time series.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 6 wherein said light outputting means has a function of outputting a white light.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 48 further comprising a frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 49 further comprising a color imaging means provided with a color filter.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope system according to claims 50 or 51 wherein said color imaging means provided with said color filter and said frame sequential color imaging means have type signal generating means outputting type signals different from each other.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope system according to claim 52 wherein said light outputting means has a switching means capable of outputting selectively said frame sequential light and said white light.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 53 wherein said signal processing means has a means for discriminating said type signal.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 54 wherein said switching means is switched by the discriminating signal by said type signal discriminating means.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
54 words
An endoscope system according to claim 52 wherein said signal processing means is formed of a first kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a second kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope system according to claim 56 wherein said signal processing means has said type signal discriminating means.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope system according to claim 57 further comprising a switching means switching selectively said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope system according to claim 58 wherein said signal type discriminating means discriminates type signals and switches said switching means.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscope imaging system according to claim 6 wherein said signal processing means is formed of a first kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said color imaging means provided with said color filter and a second kind signal processing part processing the signal corresponding to said frame sequential type color imaging means.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope system according to claim 60 wherein, of said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part, one signal part can be fitted to the other signal processing part.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope system according to claim 60 wherein said first kind signal processing part and said second kind signal processing part have a common circuit having a part of the formation circuit in common.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope system according to claim 62 wherein said common circuit has a freezing frame memory.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4407272A
Cited
US4646724A
Cited
US4638353A
Cited
US4653478A
Cited
US4621284A
Cited
US4740837A
Cited
US4729018A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-07 | 1993-02-06 | 1993-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-07 | 1997-02-06 | 1997-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-07 | 2001-02-06 | 2001-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |