US5506912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging device capable of tracking an object
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1994-11-09
•
Granted: 1996-04-09
•
Expires: 2014-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An imaging device having a signal-processing section, an imaging section, and X- and Y-direction angle wire drivers. The imaging section sequentially form images of an object. The signal-processing section obtains X- and Y-direction displacements of the imaging section with respect to an object, from the positional relationship between the images formed by the imaging section. The angle wire drivers drive X- and Y-direction angle wires in accordance with the X- and Y-direction displacements obtained by the signal-processing section, thus moving the imaging section such that the imaging section tracks the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuo Nagasaki
- 👤 Yasuhiro Komiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00188; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/68; H04N23/681; H04N23/6812; H04N23/6815; H04N23/682; H04N23/685; H04N23/687; H04N23/50; H04N23/555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
An imaging device comprising: an imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; and displacement means for displacing the imaging unit, said displacement means including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; and second-displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; wherein said second displacement-correcting means mechanically displaces at least one of the imaging element and the optical means of the imaging unit, such that the imaging element and the optical means are displaced relative to each other in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means; wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object; and wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
An imaging device comprising: an imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; and displacement means for displacing the imaging unit, said displacement means including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; and second-displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; wherein said second displacement-correcting means mechanically displaces at least one of the imaging element and the optical means of the imaging unit, such that the imaging element and the optical means are displaced relative to each other in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means; wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object; and wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: said displacement-calculating means detects amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements of the image of the object at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane; and said displacement means corrects a displacement in accordance with the amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements detected by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
271 words
An imaging device comprising: an imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; and displacement means for displacing the imaging unit, said displacement means including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; and second-displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; wherein said displacement-calculating means detects how an image of the object is displaced from the imaging unit at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane, and said imaging device further comprising: magnification-changing means for changing a magnification of an object image signal supplied from the imaging unit, and display signal-generating means for generating a display signal on the basis of the object image signal whose magnification is changed by the magnification-changing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
271 words
An imaging device comprising: an imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; and displacement means for displacing the imaging unit, said displacement means including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; and second-displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means; wherein said displacement-calculating means detects how an image of the object is displaced from the imaging unit at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane, and said imaging device further comprising: magnification-changing means for changing a magnification of an object image signal supplied from the imaging unit, and display signal-generating means for generating a display signal on the basis of the object image signal whose magnification is changed by the magnification-changing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: said displacement-calculating means detects amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements of the image of the object at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane; and said displacement means corrects a displacement in accordance with the amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements detected by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging device according to claim 5, wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a displacement sensor, located inside the imaging unit, for detecting a displacement within the imaging unit; and a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object, in accordance with the displacement detected by the displacement sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging device according to claim 7, wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said second displacement-correcting means electrically controls the imaging element such that the positions of the images formed on the imaging element are displaced relative to one another in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An imaging device according to claim 9, wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a memory for storing pixel signals produced by the imaging unit; and address control means for controlling a read address of the memory in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said displacement means displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of displacements at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane in a case where an object tracking command is not issued, and displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of a displacement at a specific position within the imaging plane in a case where the object tracking command is issued.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said displacement means further includes imaging unit-positioning means for positioning the imaging unit with reference to the object by performing negative feedback control on the basis of an output from the first displacement-correcting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said displacement means further includes means for determining a displacement type on the basis of said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said imaging unit being displaced in accordance with the displacement type determined by the displacement type-determining means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said displacement means further includes magnification-calculating means for calculating the magnification of an object image signal in accordance with said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said magnification-calculating means changing the magnification of the image of the object in accordance with the magnification calculated by the magnification-calculating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said displacement means further includes switching means for selecting one of the first and second displacement-correcting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a displacement sensor, located inside the imaging unit, for detecting a displacement within the imaging unit; and a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object, in accordance with the displacement detected by the displacement sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging device according to claim 16, wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said second displacement-correcting means electrically controls the imaging element such that the positions of the images formed on the imaging element are displaced relative to one another in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
An imaging device according to claim 18, wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a memory for storing pixel signals produced by the imaging unit; and address control means for controlling a read address of the memory in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said displacement means displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of displacements at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane in a case where an object tracking command is not issued, and displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of a displacement at a specific position within the imaging plane in a case where the object tracking command is issued.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said displacement means further includes imaging unit-positioning means for positioning the imaging unit with reference to the object by performing negative feedback control on the basis of an output from the first displacement-correcting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said displacement-calculating means detects how an image of the object is displaced from the imaging unit at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane, and said imaging device further comprising: magnification-changing means for changing a magnification of an object image signal supplied from the imaging unit; and display signal-generating means for generating a display signal on the basis of the object image signal whose magnification is changed by the magnification-changing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
An imaging device according to claim 22, wherein said displacement means further includes means for determining a displacement type on the basis of said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said imaging unit being displaced in accordance with the displacement type determined by the displacement type-determining means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
75 words
An imaging device according to claim 22, wherein said displacement means further includes magnification-calculating means for calculating the magnification of an object image signal in accordance with said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said magnification-calculating means changing the magnification of the image of the object in accordance with the magnification calculated by the magnification-calculating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
109 words
An imaging device according to claim 22, wherein: said displacement means further includes displacement-detecting means for obtaining a parallel-movement component and a magnification component of an object image signal in accordance with said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions within the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object; said imaging unit is displaced such that the parallel-movement component of the object image signal is moved in accordance with the parallel-movement component supplied from the displacement-detecting means; and said magnification-changing means changes the magnification of the object image signal in accordance with the magnification component supplied from the displacement-detecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said displacement means further includes switching means for selecting one of the first and second displacement-correcting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
302 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an insertion section which is inserted into a body cavity, said insertion section having a distal end in which an imaging unit is incorporated, said imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; an operation section for operating the distal end of the insertion section to obtain a desired image of the object; and a signal processing section for processing an object image signal which is output from the imaging unit incorporated in the distal end of the insertion section; said operation section including displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; said operation section including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means, and second displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means, an angle wire connected to the distal end of the insertion section, and a driving section for driving the angle wire, and said first displacement-correcting means displaces the imaging unit by operating the driving section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
302 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an insertion section which is inserted into a body cavity, said insertion section having a distal end in which an imaging unit is incorporated, said imaging unit including an imaging element for electronically imaging an object and optical means for forming an image of the object on an imaging plane of the imaging element; an operation section for operating the distal end of the insertion section to obtain a desired image of the object; and a signal processing section for processing an object image signal which is output from the imaging unit incorporated in the distal end of the insertion section; said operation section including displacement-calculating means for calculating the displacement between the object and the imaging unit, on the basis of relationships among images of the object which are sequentially formed on the imaging unit; said operation section including: first displacement-correcting means for mechanically correcting a positional displacement among the images of the object which are formed on the imaging element, by moving the imaging element and the optical means together in one direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical means, whereby those movements of the object which would vary optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element are corrected in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means, and second displacement-correcting means for correcting those movements of the imaging unit which would vary the optical position relationships among the images of the object formed on the imaging element, in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means, an angle wire connected to the distal end of the insertion section, and a driving section for driving the angle wire, and said first displacement-correcting means displaces the imaging unit by operating the driving section.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein: said displacement-calculating means detects amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements of the image of the object at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane; and said displacement means corrects a displacement in accordance with the amounts of X- and Y-direction displacements detected by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second displacement-correcting section mechanically displaces at least one of the imaging unit and the optical means such that the imaging element and the optical means are displaced relative to each other in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: said displacement mechanism section includes an actuator for displacing the imaging element in X- and Y-directions; said operation section includes an actuator driving section for driving the actuator; and said second displacement-correcting means displaces the imaging element by operating the actuator driving section.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said optical means includes an imaging optical lens, and wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a displacement sensor, located inside the imaging unit, for detecting a displacement within the imaging unit; and a displacing mechanism section, located inside the imaging unit, for varying the optical position relationships which the imaging optical lens and the imaging plane of the imaging element have with reference to the object, in accordance with the displacement detected by the displacement sensor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 33, wherein: said displacement mechanism section includes an actuator for displacing the imaging element in X- and Y-direction; said operation section includes an actuator driving section for driving the actuator; and said second displacement-correcting means displaces the imaging element by operating the actuator driving section.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said displacement means further includes phase-compensating means for driving the displacing mechanism section by high-speed phase compensation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second displacement-correcting means electrically controls the imaging element such that the positions of the images formed on the imaging element are displaced relative to one another in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said second displacement-correcting means includes: a memory for storing pixel signals produced by the imaging unit; and address control means for controlling a read address of the memory in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 37, wherein: said imaging element is a high-speed imaging element capable of imaging an object at high speed; and said second displacement-correcting means includes: accumulating/adding means for accumulating pixel signals produced by the high-speed imaging unit and adding the pixel signals together; a memory for storing pixel signals obtained by the accumulating/adding means; and address control means for controlling a read address of the memory in accordance with the displacement calculated by the displacement-calculating means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
86 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said displacement means displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of displacements at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane in a case where an object tracking command is not issued, and displaces the imaging unit in such a manner as to correct a displacement by use of a displacement at a specific position within the imaging plane in a case where the object tracking command is issued.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said displacement means further includes imaging unit-positioning means for positioning the imaging unit with reference to the object by performing negative feedback control on the basis of an output from the first displacement-correcting means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said displacement-calculating means detects how an image of the object is displaced from the imaging unit at a plurality of positions within the imaging plane, said displacement-calculating means including: magnification-changing means for changing a magnification of an object image signal supplied from the imaging unit; and display signal-generating means for generating a display signal on the basis of the object image signal whose magnification is changed by the magnification-changing means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said displacement means further includes means for determining a displacement type on the basis of said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said imaging unit being displaced in accordance with the displacement type determined by the displacement type-determining means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said displacement means further includes magnification-calculating means for calculating a magnification of an object image signal in accordance with said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object, said magnification-calculating means changing the magnification of the image of the object in accordance with the magnification-calculating means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 41, wherein: said displacement means further includes displacement-detecting means for obtaining a parallel-movement component and a magnification component of an object image signal in accordance with said plurality of displacements which the displacement-calculating means detects at said plurality of positions of the imaging plane with respect to the image of the object; said imaging unit is displaced such that the parallel-movement component of the object image signal is moved in accordance with the parallel-movement component supplied from the displacement-detecting means; and said magnification-changing means changes the magnification of the object image signal in accordance with the magnification component supplied from the displacement-detecting means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said displacement means further includes switching means for selecting one of the first and second displacement-correcting means.
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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) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |