Remote imager video camera cable compensation circuitry

Claim 2

A video camera, comprising: a camera control unit for providing a first timing signal; a camera head positioned remotely from the camera control unit and coupled thereto by a cable, the camera head including an imager for providing, responsive to at least one driving signal, a composite signal, the composite signal comprising a second timing signal and an image signal, the first and second timing signals having a phase relationship; driving circuitry situated within the camera head for providing the at least one driving signal responsive to the first timing signal; the cable including at least one signal line for conveying the first timing signal from the camera control unit to the driving circuitry within the camera head, and the composite signal to the camera control unit; and compensation circuitry coupled to or included within the camera control unit, and also coupled to the imager, for adjusting throughout a time period having a duration the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a pre-determined value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the pre-determined value is kept fixed for the duration of the time period.

Claim 3

The camera of claim 1 wherein the compensation circuitry includes a storage device for storing the pre-determined value throughout the time period.

Claim 4

The camera of claim 2 wherein the compensation circuitry is adapted to use the pre-determined value throughout a remainder of a surgical procedure.

Claim 5

The video camera of claim 1, further comprising an endoscope attached to the camera head.

Claim 6

A video camera, comprising: a camera control unit for providing a first timing signal; a camera head positioned remotely from the camera control unit and coupled thereto by a cable, the camera head including an imager for providing, responsive to at least one driving signal, a composite signal, the composite signal comprising a second timing signal and an image signal, the first and second timing signals having a phase relationship: driving circuitry situated within the camera head for providing the at least one driving signal responsive to the first timing signal: the cable including at least one signal line for conveying the first timing signal from the camera control unit to the driving circuitry within the camera head, and the composite signal to the camera control unit: and compensation circuitry coupled to or included within the camera control unit, and also coupled to the imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the compensation circuitry comprises a microprocessor for determining the value, a storage device coupled to or included within the microprocessor for storing the value, and a programmable delay device coupled to the microprocessor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 7

A video camera, comprising: a camera control unit for providing a first timing signal; a camera head positioned remotely from the camera control unit and coupled thereto by a cable, the camera head including an imager for providing, responsive to at least one driving signal, a composite signal, the composite signal comprising a second timing signal and an image signal, the first and second timing signals having a phase relationship: driving circuitry situated within the camera head for providing the at least one driving signal responsive to the first timing signal: the cable including at least one signal line for conveying the first timing signal from the camera control unit to the driving circuitry within the camera head, and the composite signal to the camera control unit: and compensation circuitry coupled to or included within the camera control unit, and also coupled to the imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the compensation circuitry comprises a microprocessor for determining the value, a storage device coupled to or included within the microprocessor for storing the value, and a programmable delay device coupled to the microprocessor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 8

The camera of claim 5 wherein the compensation circuitry further comprises a timing pulse separator for separating the second timing signal from the composite signal, and a phase detector for determining the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal, and the microprocessor in conjunction with the programmable delay device are configured to iteratively determine the value while monitoring the phase relationship determined by the phase detector.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 further comprising iteratively determining the value while monitoring the phase relationship between the first and second timing signals.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting the first time period to be when the second timing signal is of high quality.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting the first time period to be at the beginning of a surgical procedure.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting the second time period to be during the remainder of the surgical procedure.

Claim 15

The method of claim 7 further comprising determining the value responsive to the phase relationship.

Claim 16

A camera control unit adapted for use with a solid state imager which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable and is also coupled to driving circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry receives a first timing signal generated in the control unit, and provides at least one driving signal to said imager, and said imager provides, responsive to said at least one driving signal, to said control unit, a composite signal including an image signal and a second timing signal, the first and second timing signals having a phase relationships the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first timing signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the solid state imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising; a processor for determining the value; and a device coupled to the processor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 17

A camera control unit adapted for use with a solid state imager which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable and is also coupled to driving circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry receives a first timing signal generated in the control unit, and provides at least one driving signal to said imager, and said imager provides, responsive to said at least one driving signal, to said control unit, a composite signal including an image signal and a second timing signal, the first and second timing signals having a phase relationships the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first timing signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the solid state imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising; a processor for determining the value; and a device coupled to the processor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 18

The camera control unit of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to determine the value at a time when the second timing signal is known to be of high quality.

Claim 19

The camera control unit of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to determine the value at the beginning of a surgical procedure.

Claim 20

The camera control unit of claim 13 wherein the compensation circuitry further comprises a storage device coupled to or included within the processor for storing the value.

Claim 21

A camera control unit adapted for use with a solid state imager which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable and is also coupled to driving circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry receives a first timing signal generated in the control unit, and provides at least one driving signal to said imager, and said imager provides, responsive to send at least one driving signal, to said control unit, a composite signal, including an image signal and a second timing signal, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first timing signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the solid state imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising: a microprocessor for determining the value; and a programmable delay device coupled to the microprocessor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 22

A camera control unit adapted for use with a solid state imager which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable and is also coupled to driving circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry receives a first timing signal generated in the control unit, and provides at least one driving signal to said imager, and said imager provides, responsive to send at least one driving signal, to said control unit, a composite signal, including an image signal and a second timing signal, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first timing signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the solid state imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising: a microprocessor for determining the value; and a programmable delay device coupled to the microprocessor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 23

The camera control unit of claim 17, the compensation circuitry further comprising: a timing pulse separator for separating the second timing signal from the composite signal; and a phase detector for determining the phase relationship between the first timing signal and the second timing signal; wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine the value responsive to the phase relationship determined by the phase detector.

Claim 24

The camera control unit of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor in conjunction with the programmable delay device is configured to iteratively determine the value while monitoring the phase relationship determined by the phase detector.

Claim 25

A video camera, comprising: a camera control unit for providing a first signal containing timing information; a camera head positioned remotely from the camera control unit and coupled thereto by a cable, the camera head including an imager for providing, responsive to the first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship; the cable including at least one signal line for conveying the first signal from the camera control unit to the camera head; and compensation circuitry coupled to or included within the camera control unit, and also coupled to the camera head through the cable, for adjusting throughout a time period having a duration the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a pre-determined value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the pre-determined value is kept fixed for the duration of the time period.

Claim 26

A video camera, comprising: a camera control unit for providing a first signal containing timing information; a camera head positioned remotely from the camera control unit and coupled thereto by a cable, the camera head including an imager for providing, responsive to the first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship; the cable including at least one signal line for conveying the first signal from the camera control unit to the camera head; and compensation circuitry coupled to or included within the camera control unit, and also coupled to the camera head through the cable, for adjusting throughout a time period having a duration the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a pre-determined value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the pre-determined value is kept fixed for the duration of the time period.

Claim 27

A camera control unit adapted for use with a camera head which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable, wherein the camera head receives a first signal containing timing information generated in the control unit, and an imager in the camera head provides, responsive to said first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising: a processor for determining the value; and a device coupled to the processor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 28

A camera control unit adapted for use with a camera head which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable, wherein the camera head receives a first signal containing timing information generated in the control unit, and an imager in the camera head provides, responsive to said first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the imager, for adjusting the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, the compensation circuitry comprising: a processor for determining the value; and a device coupled to the processor and responsive to the value for adjusting the phase relationship.

Claim 31

A camera control unit adapted for use with a camera head which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable, wherein the camera head receives a first signal containing timing information generated in the control unit, and an imager in the camera head provides, responsive to said first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the imager, for adjusting throughout a time period having a duration the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a pre-determined value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the pre-determined value is kept fixed for the duration of the time period.

Claim 32

A camera control unit adapted for use with a camera head which is remotely coupled to the control unit by a cable, wherein the camera head receives a first signal containing timing information generated in the control unit, and an imager in the camera head provides, responsive to said first signal, a second signal containing timing information, the timing information in the first and second signals having a phase relationship, the camera control unit comprising: control circuitry for providing the first signal; and compensation circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to be coupled to the imager, for adjusting throughout a time period having a duration the phase relationship between the timing information in the first and second signals by a pre-determined value to at least partly compensate for delay through the cable, wherein the pre-determined value is kept fixed for the duration of the time period.