US5032913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic endoscope system equipped with color smear reducing means
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1990-02-27
•
Granted: 1991-07-16
•
Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An object being frame-sequentially illuminated by beams of illumination light in different wavelength ranges is imaged by an imaging element of an electronic endoscope. A time-serial image signal is subjected to signal processing to display a color picture on a monitor screen. A relative movement between the object and the imaging element is detected by a movement detecting circuit to reduce color smear produced by the relative movement in a motion picture of the object displayed on the monitor screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichiro Hattori
- 👤 Kazunari Nakamura
- 👤 Akira Watanabe
- 👤 Akira Kusumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/144; H04N23/00; H04N23/10; H04N23/125; H04N23/60; H04N23/68; H04N23/681; H04N23/6811; H04N23/682; H04N23/683; H04N23/685; H04N23/687; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/133; H04N23/50; H04N23/555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 160
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope comprised of a long and narrow insert portion, emitting means of frame sequential light for sequentially emitting beams of illumination light in different wavelength ranges from the distal end side of said insert portion over time, an object optical system provided at the distal end side of said insert portion for focusing an image of an object being illuminated by the frame sequential light, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of said image formed by said object optical system; drive signal producing means for producing a drive signal to output an image signal from said imaging element; signal processing means for processing said image signal to produce a standard video signal; color monitor means for receiving said standard video signal to display a motion picture on a monitor screen; movement detecting means for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging element based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in said motion picture displayed on said monitor screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope comprised of a long and narrow insert portion, emitting means of frame sequential light for sequentially emitting beams of illumination light in different wavelength ranges from the distal end side of said insert portion over time, an object optical system provided at the distal end side of said insert portion for focusing an image of an object being illuminated by the frame sequential light, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of said image formed by said object optical system; drive signal producing means for producing a drive signal to output an image signal from said imaging element; signal processing means for processing said image signal to produce a standard video signal; color monitor means for receiving said standard video signal to display a motion picture on a monitor screen; movement detecting means for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging element based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in said motion picture displayed on said monitor screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic endoscope is an electronic scope in which said imaging element is arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic endoscope is a scope externally equipped with a television camera, which comprises an optical scope having one end arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system and incorporating an image guide therein to transmit the image to the other end of said optical scope, and a television camera fitted to an eyepiece portion of said optical scope and incorporating said imaging element therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic endoscope is a scope which incorporates therein an image guide having one end arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system and transmitting the image to the other end of said image guide, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of the image formed by a focusing lens positioned in facing relation to the other end of said image guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said emitting means of frame sequential light is a light guide having one end to which is supplied the frame sequential illumination light from an external light source, and transmitting said illumination light for emission from the other end thereof arranged at the distal end side of said insert portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a lamp for emitting a beam of white light, a color wheel disc arranged in facing relation to said lamp and provided with a plurality of color transmission filters arranged circumferentially to transmit respective beams in the different wavelength ranges, and a motor for driving said color wheel disc to rotate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means is color smear detecting means for detecting color smear in said motion picture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means has movement detection signal producing means for producing a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement from at least two color signals produced by said signal processing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means has movement detection signal producing means for producing a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement from at least two among a luminance signal and two color difference signals all produced by said signal processing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means outputs a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means for a period of each field/frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means is able to output a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means in a period unit shorter than one horizontal period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has color smear preventing means for controlling a plurality of color signal components output from said signal processing means to be produced as one color signal component, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has control means for outputting a color killer signal to said signal processing means to provide display in black and white, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has pseudo-color signal producing means for producing pseudo-color signals corresponding to others color signal by the use of one color signal issued from said signal processing means and then outputting said pseudo-color signals in place of said other color signals, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a plurality of color signals issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a luminance signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has an oscillating element for oscillating one of said object optical system and said imaging element with respect to the other, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has freeze-picture producing means for outputting, as a freeze-picture, an image immediately before issuance of a movement detection signal, in response to the movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has luminance suppressing means for making control such that at least a luminance level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has saturation suppressing means for making control such that at least a saturation level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue changing means for changing hues of two color difference signal components corresponding to image portions for which said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue region restricting means for restricting at least a hue region of the video signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 22, wherein said color hue restricting means is a ROM which outputs two color difference signals restricted in their hue regions by using two color difference signals produced from said signal processing means as address signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said color smear reducing means has an averaging circuit for replacing two color difference signals issued from said signal processing means with respective average color difference signals which are averaged for a preset period of time, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 24, wherein said system has a decoder circuit for decoding a green color signal produced by said signal processing means and said average color difference signals issued from said averaging circuit, and then outputting three primary color pseudo-signals thus decoded to said color monitor means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said system further has an averaging circuit for averaging the amplitude of said green color signal by the use of an average luminance signal over a period of one field/frame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising water feeding means which is able to wash said object optical system with water being fed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 27, wherein said movement detecting means comprises color component detecting means for detecting a plurality of color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges from said image signal, and evaluation means for evaluating color smear from output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 28, wherein said color component detecting means detects, in addition to the color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges, at least one other color component corresponding to the combined color component of the illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges, and said evaluation means evaluates color smear from the output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 28, wherein said color component detecting means detects hues as said color components.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 28, wherein said evaluation means carries out operation to reduce color smear, only when the color smear is discriminated to be attributable to water-feed by said water feeding means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising air feeding means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising suction means to suck viscous liquid or the like.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 33 or 32, wherein said movement detecting means comprises color component detecting means for detecting a plurality of color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges from said image signal, and evaluation means for evaluating color smear from output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 34, wherein when the output signals of said color components detecting means are determined to be equal to or larger than a certain level for the plural color components, said evaluation means discriminates that color smear is attributable to water-feed by said water feeding means, suction by said suction means, or air-feed by said air feeding means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 27, 33 or 32, wherein said evaluation means discriminates color smear due to any of water-feed, suction or air-feed from the detection signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 36, wherein said evaluation means comprises addition means for adding the respective output signals of said color component detecting means, and comparison means for determining the presence of color smear due to water-feed or suction based on whether or not the sun value added by said addition means exceeds a reference value.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 36, wherein said evaluation means comprises a plurality of comparators each having one input terminal to which is applied one output signal of said color component detecting means and the other input terminal to which is applied a reference value, and memory means for determining whether or not the color smear is due to washing water, based on a combination of output signals from said plurality of comparators.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 38, wherein said memory means is capable of rewriting the memory contents.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means detects color smear from said relative movement, and comprises first color component producing means for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue from said image signal, second color component producing means for producing second color component signal corresponding to a second hue for detection of color smear in said image signal due to said relative movement, and color smear discriminating means for detecting color smear in said image signal from said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to said second hue from said image signal, said second hue being different from said first hue by an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said first color component producing means has color difference signal producing means for producing two color difference signals.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said first color component producing means further has division means for dividing one of said two color difference signals by the other to produce said first color component signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said first color component producing means further has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from said two color difference signals.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said first color component producing means has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from three primary color signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said second color component producing means has delay means for giving a time delay through an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said second color component producing means produces, as said second hue given by said second color component signal, a reference hue set corresponding to the presence region of said first hue.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said color smear discriminating means comprises subtraction means for subtracting one of said first color component signal and said second color component signal from the other, and comparison means for determining whether or not an output signal of said subtraction means is within an allowable range.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue region comparing means for comparing a common hue region between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 40, wherein said first color component producing means produces said first color component signal corresponding to not only said first hue but also first saturation, and said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to not only said second hue but also second saturation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 50, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue and saturation region comparing means for comparing common hue and saturation regions between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope comprised of a long and narrow insert portion, emitting means of frame sequential light for sequentially emitting beams of illumination light in different wavelength ranges from the distal end side of said insert portion over time, an object optical system provided at the distal end side of said insert portion for focusing an image of an object being illuminated by the frame sequential light, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of said image formed by said object optical system; drive signal producing means for producing a drive signal to output an image signal from said imaging element; signal processing means for processing said image signal to produce a standard video signal; color monitor means for displaying a picture of said object on a monitor screen based on said standard video signal; movement detecting means for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging element based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in said picture displayed on said monitor screen in real time.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope comprised of a long and narrow insert portion, emitting means of frame sequential light for sequentially emitting beams of illumination light in different wavelength ranges from the distal end side of said insert portion over time, an object optical system provided at the distal end side of said insert portion for focusing an image of an object being illuminated by the frame sequential light, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of said image formed by said object optical system; drive signal producing means for producing a drive signal to output an image signal from said imaging element; signal processing means for processing said image signal to produce a standard video signal; color monitor means for displaying a picture of said object on a monitor screen based on said standard video signal; movement detecting means for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging element based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in said picture displayed on said monitor screen in real time.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said electronic endoscope is an electronic scope in which said imaging element is arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said electronic endoscope is a scope externally equipped with a television camera, which comprises an optical scope having one end arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system and incorporating an image guide therein to transmit the image to the other end of said optical scope, and a television camera fitted to an eyepiece portion of said optical scope and incorporating said imaging element therein.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said electronic endoscope is a scope which incorporates therein an image guide having one end arranged in the focal plane of said object optical system and transmitting the image to the other end of said image guide, and an imaging element for making photoelectric conversion of the image formed by a focusing lens positioned in facing relation to the other end of said image guide.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said emitting means of frame sequential light is a light guide having one end to which is supplied the frame sequential illumination light from an external light source, and transmitting said illumination light for emission from the other end thereof arranged at the distal end side of said insert portion.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said light source comprises a lamp for emitting a beam of white light, a color wheel disc arranged in facing relation to said lamp and provided with a plurality of color transmission filters arranged circumferentially to transmit respective beams in the different wavelength ranges, and a motor for driving said color wheel disc to rotate.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means is color smear detecting means for detecting color smear in said picture.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means has movement detection signal producing means for producing a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement from at least two color signals produced by said signal processing means.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means has movement detection signal producing means for producing a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement from at least two among a luminance signal and two color difference signals all produced by said signal processing means.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means outputs a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means for a period of each field/-frame.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means is able to output a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means in a period unit shorter than one horizontal period.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has color smear preventing means for controlling a plurality of color signal components output from said signal processing means to be produced as one color signal component, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has control means for outputting a color killer signal to said signal processing means to provide display in black and white, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has pseudo-color signal producing means for producing pseudo-color signals corresponding to other color signals by the use of one color signal issued from said signal processing means and the outputting said pseudo-color signals in place of said other color signals, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a plurality of color signals issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a luminance signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has an oscillating element for oscillating one of said object optical system and said imaging element with respect to the other, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has freeze-picture producing means for outputting, as a freeze-picture, an image immediately before issuance of a movement detection signal. In response to the movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has luminance suppressing means for making control such that at least a luminance level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has saturation suppressing means for making control such that at least a saturation level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue changing means for changing hues of two color difference signal components corresponding to image portions for which said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
63 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue region restricting means for restricting at least a hue region of the video signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 73, wherein said color hue restricting means is a ROM which outputs two color difference signals restricted in their hue regions by using two color difference signals produced from said signal processing means as address signals.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said color smear reducing means has an averaging circuit for replacing two color difference signals issued from said signal processing means with respective average color difference signals which are averaged for a preset period of time, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 75, wherein said system has a decoder circuit for decoding a green color signal produced by said signal processing means and said average color difference signals issued from said averaging circuit, and then outputting three primary color pseudo-signals thus decoded to said color monitor means.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 76, wherein said system further has an averaging circuit for averaging the amplitude of said green color signal by the use of an average luminance signal over a period of one field/frame.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, further comprising water feeding means which is able to wash said object optical system with water being fed.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 78, wherein said movement detecting means comprises color component detecting means for detecting a plurality of color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges from said image signal, and evaluation means for evaluating color smear from output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 79, wherein said color component detecting means detects, in addition to the color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges, at least one other color component corresponding to the combined color component of the illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges, and said evaluation means evaluates color smear from the output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 79, wherein said color component detecting means detects hues as said color components.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 79, wherein said evaluation means carries out operation to reduce color smear, only when the color smear is discriminated to be attributable to water-feed by said water feeding means.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, further comprising air feeding means.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, further comprising suction means to suck viscous liquid or the like
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 84, or 83, wherein said movement detecting means comprises color component detecting means for detecting a plurality of color components of said illumination light in the respective wavelength ranges from said image signal, and evaluation means for evaluating color smear from output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 85, wherein when the output signals of said color component detecting means are determined to be equal to or larger than a certain level for the plural color components, said evaluation means discriminates that the color smear is attributable to water-feed by said water feeding means, suction by said suction means, or air-feed by said air feeding means.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 78, 84 or 83, wherein said evaluation means discriminates color smear due to any of water-feed, suction or air-feed from the detection signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 87, wherein said evaluation means comprises addition means for adding the respective output signals of said color component detecting means, and comparison means for determining the presence of color smear due to water-feed or suction based on whether or not the sum value added by said addition means exceeds a reference valve.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 87, wherein said evaluation means comprises a plurality of comparators each having one input terminal to which is applied one output signal of said color component detecting means and the other input terminal to which is applied a reference value, and memory means for determining whether or not the color smear is due to washing water, based on a combination of output signals from said plurality of comparators.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 89, wherein said memory means is capable of rewriting the memory contents.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 52, wherein said movement detecting means detects color smear from said relative movement, and comprises first color component producing means for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue from said image signal, second color component producing means for producing second color component signal corresponding to a second hue for detection of color smear in said image signal due to said relative movement, and color smear discriminating means for detecting color smear in said image signal from said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to said second hue from said image signal, said second hue being different from said first hue by an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said first color component producing means has color difference signal producing means for producing two color difference signals.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said first color component producing means further has division means for dividing one of said two color difference signals by the other to produce said first color component signal.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said first color component producing means further has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from said two color difference signals.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said first color component producing means has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from three primary color signals.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said second color component producing means has delay means for giving a time delay through an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said second color component producing means produces, as said second hue given by said second color component signal, a reference hue set corresponding to the presence region of said first hue.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said color smear discriminating means comprises subtraction means for subtracting one of said first color component signal and said second color component signal from the other, and comparison means for determining whether or not an output signal of said subtraction means is within an allowable range.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue region comparing means for comparing a common hue region between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 91, wherein said first color component producing means produces said first color component signal corresponding to not only said first hue but also first saturation, and said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to not only said second hue but also second saturation.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 101, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue and saturation region comparing means for comparing common hue and saturation regions between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
88 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: movement detecting means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging means based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in a motion picture displayed on a monitor screen.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
88 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: movement detecting means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging means based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in a motion picture displayed on a monitor screen.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
59 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said imaging means is provided in an electronic endoscope including an imaging element which makes photoelectric conversion of an image of an object formed by an object optical system disposed at the distal end side of a long and narrow insert portion for focusing the image of said object.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
34 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said apparatus has emitting means of frame sequential light for illuminating said object by the frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said movement detecting means is color smear detecting means for detecting color smear in said motion picture.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, further comprising water feeding means which is able to wash said object optical system with water being fed.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said color smear reducing means has an oscillating element for oscillating one of said object optical system and said imaging element with respect to the other, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
61 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said color smear reducing means has freeze-picture producing means for outputting, as a freeze-picture, an image immediately before issuance of a movement detection signal, in response to the movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
66 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said color smear reducing means has luminance suppressing means for making control such that at least a luminance level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
52 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue changing means for changing hues of two color difference signal components corresponding to image portions for which said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, further comprising suction means to suck viscous liquid or the like.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
54 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 112, wherein said movement detecting means comprises color component detecting means for detecting a plurality of color components of said illumination light in respective wavelength ranges from said image signal, and evaluation means for evaluating color smear from output signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
21 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said color component detecting means detects hues as said color components.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
40 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said evaluation means discriminates color smear due to water-feed by said water feeding means or suction by said suction means from the detection signals of said color component detecting means.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
100 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said movement detecting means detects color smear form said relative movement, and comprises first color component producing means for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue form said image signal, second color component producing means for producing second color component signal corresponding to a second hue for detection of color smear in said image signal due to said relative movement, and color smear discriminating means for detecting color smear in said image signal form said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
52 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to said second hue from said image signal, said second hue being different from said first hue by an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said first color component producing means has color difference signal producing means for producing two color difference signals.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said first color component producing means further has division means for dividing one of said two color difference signals by the other to produce said first color component signal.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said first color component producing means further has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from said two color difference signals.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
37 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said first color component producing means has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from three primary color signals.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
36 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said second color component producing means has delay means for giving a time delay through an illumination cycle of said emitting means of frame sequential light.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
41 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said second color component producing means produces, as said second hue given by said second color component signal, a reference hue set corresponding to the presence region of said first hue.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
56 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said color smear discriminating means comprises subtraction means for subtracting one of said first color component signal and said second color component signal from the other, and comparison means for determining whether or not an output signal of said subtraction means is within an allowable range.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
38 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue region comparing means for comparing a common hue region between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
57 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 116, wherein said first color component producing means produces said first color component signal corresponding to not only said first hue but also first saturation, and said second color component producing means produces said second color component signal corresponding to not only said second hue but also second saturation.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
41 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 124, wherein said color smear discriminating means has hue and saturation region comparing means for comparing common hue and saturation regions between said first color component signal and said second color component signal.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 103, further comprising signal processing means which produces a standard video signal corresponding to the motion picture of said object based on said time-serial image signal issued from said imaging means.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
48 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said movement detecting means outputs a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means for a period of each field/frame.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
54 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said movement detecting means is able to output a movement detection signal dependent on said relative movement based on at least two signals produced by said signal processing means to said color smear reducing means in a period unit shorter than one horizontal period.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
70 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has color smear preventing means for controlling a plurality of color signal components output from the said signal processing means to be produced as one color signal component, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has control means for outputting a color killer signal to said signal processing means to provide display in black and white, ion response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
82 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has pseudo-color signal producing means for producing pseudo-color signals corresponding to other color signals by the use of one color signal issued from said signal processing means and then outputting said pseudo-color signals in place of said other color signals, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a plurality of color signals issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
61 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has high-frequency suppressing means for suppressing the high-frequency component in a luminance signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
66 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has saturation suppressing means for making control such that at least a saturation level of a picture displayed on said monitor screen is lowered, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
64 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has hue region restricting means for restricting at least a hue region of the video signal issued from said signal processing means, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
44 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 137, wherein said color hue restricting means is a RON which outputs two color difference signals restricted in their hue regions by using two color difference signals produced from said signal processing means as address signals.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
73 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 128, wherein said color smear reducing means has an averaging circuit for replacing two color difference signals issued from said signal processing means with respective average color difference signals which are averaged for a preset period of time, in response to a movement detection signal issued when said movement detecting means determines that said relative movement is equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
53 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 139, wherein said system has a decoder circuit for decoding a green color signal produced by said signal processing means and said average color difference signals issued from said averaging circuit, and then outputting three primary color pseudo-signals thus decoded to said color monitor means.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
40 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 138, wherein said system further has an averaging circuit for averaging the amplitude of said green color signal by the use of an average luminance signal over a period of one field/frame.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
148 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: first color component producing means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue from said time-serial image signal; second color component producing means for producing second color component signal corresponding to a second hue for detection of color smear in said time-serial image signal; color smear discriminating means for detecting color smear in said time-serial image signal from said first color component signal and said second color component signal; and color smear reducing means for reducing color smear in a color picture of said object displayed on a monitor screen, when said color smear discriminating means determines the presence of color smear.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
148 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: first color component producing means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue from said time-serial image signal; second color component producing means for producing second color component signal corresponding to a second hue for detection of color smear in said time-serial image signal; color smear discriminating means for detecting color smear in said time-serial image signal from said first color component signal and said second color component signal; and color smear reducing means for reducing color smear in a color picture of said object displayed on a monitor screen, when said color smear discriminating means determines the presence of color smear.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
50 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said second color component producing means produced said second color component signal corresponding to said second hue from said time-serial image signal, said second hut being different from said first hue by an illumination cycle of said frame sequential light.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said first color component producing means has color difference signal producing means for producing two color difference signals.
Claim 149
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said first color component producing means further has division means for dividing one of said two color difference signals by the other to produce said first color component signal.
Claim 150
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said first color component producing means further has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from said two color difference signals.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
37 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said first color component producing means has a conversion table for producing said first color component signal corresponding to the resultant hue from three primary color signals.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
33 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said second color component producing means has delay means for giving a time delay through an illumination cycle of said frame sequential light.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
41 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said second color component producing means produces, as said second hue given by said second color component signal, a reference hue set corresponding to the presence region of said first hue.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
56 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said color smear discriminating means comprises subtraction means for subtracting one of said first color component signal and said second color component signal from the other, and comparison means for determining whether or not an output signal of said subtraction means is within an allowable range.
Claim 155
Dependent Claim
73 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said color smear reducing means has pseudo-color signal producing means for producing pseudo-color signals corresponding to other color signals by the use of one color signal issued from said signal processing means and then outputting said pseudo-color signals in place of said other color signals, in response to detection signal issued when said color smear discriminating means determines the presence of color smear.
Claim 156
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 142, wherein said color smear reducing means has freeze-picture producing means for outputting, as a freeze-picture, an image immediately before issuance of said output signal, in response to said output signal issued when said color smear discriminating means determines the presence of color smear in a degree equal to or larger than a certain value.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
90 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: movement detecting means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging means based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in an image of said object displayed on a monitor screen.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
90 words
A color smear reducing apparatus comprising: movement detecting means for receiving a time-serial image signal issued from imaging means of the frame sequential type which sequentially images an object being illuminated by beams of frame sequential light in different wavelength ranges over time, and for detecting a relative movement between said object and said imaging means based on said image signal; and color smear reducing means responsive to an output of said movement detecting means for reducing color smear in an image of said object displayed on a monitor screen.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
100 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 153, wherein said movement detecting means comprises first color component producing means for producing first color component signal corresponding to at least a first hue based on said time-serial image signal; and conversion table means in which is written information corresponding to a second hut region for detecting color smear in said time-serial image signal, and which outputs a color smear detection signal dependent on whether or not said first hue is present within said second hue region, to said color smear reducing means upon receipt of said first color component signal.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
35 words
A color smear reducing apparatus according to claim 154, wherein said conversion table means has a second conversion table in which is stored information corresponding to another hue region different from said second hue region.
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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) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |