Intelligent camera head

• US 20040201686A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Endoscopy-America Incorporated (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Amling, Marc R., Chatenever, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/665 involving internal camera communication with the image sensor, e.g. synchronising or multiplexing SSIS control signals

Abstract

A video imaging system that minimizes the effect of EMI on the image data, provides a small, lightweight easy to use camera head, permitting interchangeable use of a variety of intelligent camera heads with a single camera control unit, and allows the utilization of new camera heads with new functions as they become available without having to replace the existing CCU.

Claims

1. A video imaging system comprising:

a camera control unit for processing a digital image signal;

a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the digital image signal to said camera control unit; and

a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the digital image signal, said camera head including;

an imager, for generating an analog image signal;

a timing generator, for actuating said imager;

a converter, for converting the analog image signal into the digital image signal; and

a serializer, for serializing the digital image signal for transmission over said cable.

2. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera head further comprises a multiplexer, for generating a multiplexed signal, which includes the digital image signal and control signals.

3. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera head further comprises a processor.

4. The video imaging system according to claim 3 wherein said camera head further comprises a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.

5. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein an inputted data formats the camera control unit.

6. The video imaging system according to claim 5 wherein the inputted data comes from the camera head.

7. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial driver.

8. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial receiver.

9. Said camera head according to claim 7 wherein the at least one digital serial driver utilizes Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

10. Said camera head according to claim 8 wherein the at least one digital serial receiver utilizes Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

11. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial driver.

12. The video imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial receiver.

13. Said camera control unit according to claim 11 wherein the at least one digital serial driver utilizes Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

14. Said camera control unit according to claim 12 wherein the at least one digital serial receiver utilizes Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

15. A video imaging system comprising:

a camera control unit for processing an image signal;

a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the image signal to said camera control unit; and

a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the image signal, said camera head including;

an imager, for generating the image signal; and

a timing generator, for actuating said imager.

16. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera head produces analog image data, said camera head further comprising a converter, for converting an analog image signal to a digital image signal.

17. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera head further comprises a multiplexer, for generating a multiplexed signal, which includes the image signal and control signals.

18. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera head further comprises a serializer, for serializing the image signal.

19. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera head further comprises a processor.

20. The video imaging system according to claim 19 wherein said camera head further comprises a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.

21. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein an inputted data formats the camera control unit.

22. The video imaging system according to claim 21 wherein the inputted data comes from the camera head.

23. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial driver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

24. The video imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial receiver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

25. A video imaging system comprising:

a camera control unit for processing a digital image signal;

a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the digital image signal to said camera control unit; and

a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the digital image signal, said camera head including;

an imager, for generating an analog image signal; and

a converter, for converting the analog image signal into the digital image signal.

26. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein said camera head further comprises a multiplexer, for generating a multiplexed signal, which includes the digital image signal and control signals.

27. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein said camera head further comprises a serializer, for serializing the digital image data.

28. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein said camera head further comprises a processor.

29. The video imaging system according to claim 28 wherein said camera head further comprises a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.

30. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein an inputted data formats the camera control unit.

31. The video imaging system according to claim 30 wherein the inputted data comes from the camera head.

32. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial driver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

33. The video imaging system according to claim 25 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial receiver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

34. A video imaging system comprising:

a camera control unit for processing an image signal;

a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the image signal to said camera control unit; and

a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the image signal, said camera head including;

an imager, for generating an image signal; and

a serializer, for serializing the image signal for transmission over said cable.

35. The video imaging system according to claim 34 wherein said camera head further comprises a multiplexer, for generating a multiplexed signal, which includes the image signal and control signals.

36. The video imaging system according to claim 34 wherein said camera head further comprises a processor.

37. The video imaging system according to claim 36 wherein said camera head further comprises a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.

38. The video imaging system according to claim 34 wherein an inputted data formats the camera control unit.

39. The video imaging system according to claim 38 wherein the inputted data comes from the camera head.

40. The video imaging system according to claim 34 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial driver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

41. The video imaging system according to claim 34 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial receiver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

42. A video imaging system comprising:

a camera control unit for processing an image signal;

a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the image signal to said camera control unit; and

a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the image signal, said camera head including;

an imager, for generating the image signal; and

a processor.

43. The video imaging system according to claim 42 wherein said camera head further comprises a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.

44. The video imaging system according to claim 42 wherein said camera head further comprises a multiplexer, for generating a multiplexed signal, which includes the image signal and a control signal.

45. The video imaging system according to claim 42 wherein an inputted data formats the camera control unit.

46. The video imaging system according to claim 45 wherein the inputted data comes from the camera head.

47. The video imaging system according to claim 42 wherein said camera head utilizes at least one digital serial driver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.

48. The video imaging system according to claim 42 wherein said camera control unit utilizes at least one digital serial receiver utilizing Low-Voltage Differential Signals.