Patent US2129662A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4873572A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4873572A
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US
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Electronic endoscope apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1988-02-24
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Granted: 1989-10-10
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Expires: 2008-02-24
Abstract
Abstract This electronic endoscope apparatus comprises an elongate insertable part, two image forming optical systems provide in the tip part of the insertable part and an integrated imaging device provided in the tip part of the insertable part and having two imaging regions in which object images are formed by two image forming optical systems. The imaging device has, for example, one solid state imaging device having two imaging regions or has two solid state imaging devices made integral.
Inventors
- 👤 Akihiko Miyazaki
- 👤 Tetsuo Nonami
- 👤 Yuji Ikuno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00193; A61B1/00194; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/10; H04N13/106; H04N13/161; H04N13/167; H04N13/189; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/218; H04N13/296; H04N13/30; H04N13/332; H04N13/337; H04N13/341; H04N13/398; H04N13/122; H04N13/15; H04N13/239; H04N13/254; H04N13/257; H04N13/324; H04N13/339; H04N13/344; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/597; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0077; H04N2013/0081; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate insertable part; two image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part; and an imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part, having two imaging regions in which object images are formed by said two image forming optical systems and made integral.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate insertable part; two image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part; and an imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part, having two imaging regions in which object images are formed by said two image forming optical systems and made integral.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said imaging means has one solid state imaging device having two imaging regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an illuminating means illuminating an object to be imaged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a video signal processing means processing the output signal of said imaging means so as to be a video signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said video signal processing means has a visual field coverting means converting the visual fields of the images imaged in said two imaging regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said two image forming optical systems are arranged in two stereo-viewable positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a video signal processing means processing the output signal of said imaging means so as to be a video signal and a stereo-image forming means forming a stereo-image of an object by using a video signal produced by said video signal processing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said stereo-image forming means has a monitor inputting a video signal from said video signal processing means and displaying on the right and left respective images imaged in said two imaging regions and a limiting means making obserable only one different from each other of the two images displayed on the right and left of said monitor respectively for the right and left eyes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said limiting means comprises a polarizing plate provided on the front surface of said monitor and having a right side part and left side part passing only the lights in the polarizing directions different from each other and polarizing spectacles having a right part passing only the light in the same polarizing direction as of the right side part of said polarizing plate corresponding to the right eye and a left pat passing only the light in the same polarizing direction as of the left side part of said polarizing plate corresponding to the left eye.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said limiting means has a hood covering the displaying surface of said monitor, a partition plate provided within said hood and separating the displaying surface of said monitor to the right and left and two observing window parts provided on the right and left with said partition plate between them in said hood.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said stereo-image forming means has a signal processing means alternately outputting one of the video signals of the respective images imaged in said two imaging regions, a monitor inputting the video signals from said signal processing means and alternately displaying one of the respective images imaged in said two imaging regions and a pair of shutters alternately intercepting the light as synchronized with the switching of the image displayed in said monitor corresponding to the respective right and left eyes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said signal processing means has a first memory memorizing two images imaged in said two imaging regions, second and third memories respectively memorizing the respective images memorized in said first memory and a memory controlling means alternately reading the images out of said second memory and third memory and delivering them to said monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said signal processing means outputs a video signal so that the image of one side may be displayed in said monitor for 1/120 second every 1/60 second.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said imaging means has two solid state imaging devices made integral.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two image forming optical systems are arranged as opposed to the center axis of said insertable part.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising an object illuminating means having two illuminating windows arranged on the straight line intersecting the straight line connecting the observing windows of said two image forming optical systems in the tip part of said insertable part.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a treating tool channel provided within said insertable part and having a tip opening arranged in a position including the center axis of said insertable part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising an object illuminating means having an illuminating window arranged between the observing windows of said two image forming optical systems in the tip part of said insertable part.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two image forming optical systems are arranged so that the optical axes may intersect each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a video signal processing means for processing the output signal of said imaging means so as to be a video signal having two process circuits whereby the video signal from said two solid state imaging devices is made a television signal, two memories respectively memorizing the output signals of said two process circuits and a picture image correcting circuit correcting the output signals of said two memories so that the sizes and position of the respective picture images may be the same.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two solid state imaging devices are arranged with the respective imaging surfaces inclined by a predetermined angle with the center axis direction of said insertable part.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two solid state imaging devices are fitted adjacently to one surface of a package.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two solid state imaging devices have the same number of pixels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the driving frequency driving said two solid state imaging devices is the same frequency.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two solid state imaging devices are fitted to both surfaces of one package.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said two solid state imaging devices and package are arranged substantially parallelly with the axial direction of the insertable part substantially in the center axis position of the insertable part.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope provided with an elongate insertable part, two image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part and an integrated imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part and having two imaging regions in which object images are formed by said two image forming optical systems; and a signal processing apparatus to which said endoscope is removably connected and which processes the output signal of said imaging means so as to be a video signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope provided with an elongate insertable part, two image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part and an integrated imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part and having two imaging regions in which object images are formed by said two image forming optical systems; and a signal processing apparatus to which said endoscope is removably connected and which processes the output signal of said imaging means so as to be a video signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said imaging means has two solid state imaging devices made integral and said endoscope further has an adjusting means unifying the sizes of the video signals from said two solid state imaging devices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said adjusting means is provided in a connector part connected to said signal processing apparatus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a elongate insertable part; a plurality of image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part; and an integrated imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part and having a plurality of imaging regions in which object images are formed by said plurality of image forming optical systems.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a elongate insertable part; a plurality of image forming optical systems provided in the tip part of said insertable part; and an integrated imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part and having a plurality of imaging regions in which object images are formed by said plurality of image forming optical systems.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-09 | 1993-04-10 | 1993-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-09 | 1997-04-10 | 1997-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-09 | 2001-04-10 | 2001-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |