Single image sensor control for capturing mixed mode images
First Claim
1. A method of capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera when the capsule camera travels through a human gastrointestinal tract after the capsule camera is swallowed by a patient, wherein the capsule camera comprises an image sensor and is capable of capturing at least two mixed-type images corresponding to special images and regular images, the method comprising:
- determining one first energy-based frame time for the special images based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor;
determining one second energy-based frame time for the regular images based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor;
capturing the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame time distance between said one first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and said one second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an overall average frame period, wherein each set of mixed-type images comprises at least one special image and one regular image; and
providing or outputting the image sequence captured for further processing or viewing; and
wherein the special images are used to control capturing the regular images or used to derive or provide associated information for the regular images; and
wherein an overall average frame rate is substantially lower than a capable frame rate of the capsule camera, and wherein the overall average frame rate is calculated as a sum of individual frame rates and each individual frame rate is associated with one type of said least two mixed-type images.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera are disclosed. According to the present invention, a first energy-based frame time for the special images is determined based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor and a second energy-based frame time for the regular images is determined based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor. The capsule camera captures the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame distance between the first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and the second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an average frame period.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera when the capsule camera travels through a human gastrointestinal tract after the capsule camera is swallowed by a patient, wherein the capsule camera comprises an image sensor and is capable of capturing at least two mixed-type images corresponding to special images and regular images, the method comprising:
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determining one first energy-based frame time for the special images based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor; determining one second energy-based frame time for the regular images based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor; capturing the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame time distance between said one first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and said one second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an overall average frame period, wherein each set of mixed-type images comprises at least one special image and one regular image; and providing or outputting the image sequence captured for further processing or viewing; and wherein the special images are used to control capturing the regular images or used to derive or provide associated information for the regular images; and wherein an overall average frame rate is substantially lower than a capable frame rate of the capsule camera, and wherein the overall average frame rate is calculated as a sum of individual frame rates and each individual frame rate is associated with one type of said least two mixed-type images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera when the capsule camera travels through a human gastrointestinal tract after the capsule camera is swallowed by a patient, wherein the capsule camera comprises an image sensor and is capable of capturing at least two mixed-type images corresponding to special images and regular images, the apparatus comprising one or more electronic circuits or processors arranged to:
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determining one first energy-based frame time for the special images based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor; determine one second energy-based frame time for the regular images based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor; capture the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame time distance between said one first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and said one second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an overall average frame period, wherein each set of mixed-type images comprises at least one special image and one regular image; and provide or output the image sequence captured for further processing or viewing; and wherein the special images are used to control capturing the regular images or used to derive or provide associated information for the regular images; and wherein an overall average frame rate is substantially lower than a capable frame rate of the capsule camera, and wherein the overall average frame rate is calculated as a sum of individual frame rates and each individual frame rate is associated with one type of said least two mixed-type images.
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Specification