Remote CCD video camera with non-volatile digital memory

Claim 1

An endoscopic video camera system, comprising: control circuitry for actuating an imager to produce a video signal and for processing the video signal produced by the imager; a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, and also remotely coupled to the control circuitry, said camera head comprising an imager for producing a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; and a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which is stored first data representative of at least one characteristic associated with the camera head; said control circuitry further comprising a processor which is configured, upon said camera head being operatively engaged to said control circuitry, to read said first data.

Claim 18

A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of: providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope; storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized; predetermining second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and comparing said first data with said second data and based on the comparison either (1) permitting continued use of said camera head; or (2) providing an end-of-life signal.

Claim 19

A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of: providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope; storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized; predetermining second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and comparing said first data with said second data and based on the comparison either (1) permitting continued use of said camera head; or (2) providing an end-of-life signal.

Claim 20

A method for adjusting at least one operating parameter of a semiconductor imager in an endoscopic camera head comprising the steps of: providing a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said camera head including a semiconductor imager having at least one predetermined operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device data representative of said at least one operating parameter; and adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said data to provide a signal representative of said at least one operating parameter to said semiconductor imager.

Claim 21

A method for adjusting at least one operating parameter of a semiconductor imager in an endoscopic camera head comprising the steps of: providing a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said camera head including a semiconductor imager having at least one predetermined operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device data representative of said at least one operating parameter; and adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said data to provide a signal representative of said at least one operating parameter to said semiconductor imager.

Claim 22

A method for interchanging first and second endoscopic video camera heads comprising the steps of: providing a first camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said first camera head including a first semiconductor imager configured to produce a video signal upon actuation by control circuitry and further including a first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said first camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry; operatively engaging the first camera head to control circuitry so that the first configured to actuate a semiconductor imager in a camera head and to process the video signal produced by said imager; storing in said first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the first camera head has been used; predetermining second data representative of the number of uses to which said first camera head should be limited; comparing said first data with said second data and either (1) permitting continued use of said first camera head; or (2) providing an end-of-life signal; providing a second camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said second camera head including a second semiconductor imager having an operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry and further including a second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said second camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry; storing in said second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device third data representative of said operating parameter; and if the end-of-life signal is provided, performing the following steps: interchanging said first and second camera heads, and operatively engaging the second camera head to the control circuitry; reading said third data representative of said operating parameter from said second memory device; and adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said third data to provide a signal representative of said operating parameter to said second imager.

Claim 23

A method for interchanging first and second endoscopic video camera heads comprising the steps of: providing a first camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said first camera head including a first semiconductor imager configured to produce a video signal upon actuation by control circuitry and further including a first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said first camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry; operatively engaging the first camera head to control circuitry so that the first configured to actuate a semiconductor imager in a camera head and to process the video signal produced by said imager; storing in said first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the first camera head has been used; predetermining second data representative of the number of uses to which said first camera head should be limited; comparing said first data with said second data and either (1) permitting continued use of said first camera head; or (2) providing an end-of-life signal; providing a second camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said second camera head including a second semiconductor imager having an operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry and further including a second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said second camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry; storing in said second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device third data representative of said operating parameter; and if the end-of-life signal is provided, performing the following steps: interchanging said first and second camera heads, and operatively engaging the second camera head to the control circuitry; reading said third data representative of said operating parameter from said second memory device; and adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said third data to provide a signal representative of said operating parameter to said second imager.

Claim 24

A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of: providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said sterilizable camera head including a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device; storing in said readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized; comparing said first data with predetermined second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and determining whether an end-of-life signal should be provided.

Claim 25

A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of: providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said sterilizable camera head including a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device; storing in said readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized; comparing said first data with predetermined second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and determining whether an end-of-life signal should be provided.