Capsule endoscope and capsule endoscope system

• US 20050049461A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Shigemori, Toshiaki, Mori, Takeshi, Kimoto, Seiichiro, Honda, Takemitsu, Shimizu, Hatsuo
• Application Number:
  US10/876,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/004 by using forward error control H04L1/0618 takes precedence; coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or correction H03M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A capsule endoscope includes a storage unit that stores signal processing data necessary for signal processing specific to an imaging device of a capsule endoscope, and a transmitting unit that transmits the signal processing data stored in the storage unit. Besides, a capsule endscope system includes the capsule endoscope and a receiver which receives the signal processing data transmitted from the transmittting unit. The capsule endoscope does not perform signal processing specific to the imaging device but the receiver performs signal processing specific to the imaging device based on the received signal processing data.

Claims

1. A capsule endoscope comprising:

a storage unit that stores signal processing data necessary for signal processing specific to an imaging device of the capsule endoscope; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the signal processing data stored in the storage unit.

2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing data is a value acquired before shipment of the capsule endoscope in advance.

3. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing data is data of a white balance coefficient to be used when a white balancing process of the imaging device is performed.

4. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing data is data of an image of a chart for color signal processing which is taken by the imaging device.

5. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing data is data indicating an address of a defective pixel of the imaging device.

6. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing data is data indicating an offset value of the photoelectric conversion characteristic of the imaging device.

7. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the signal processing data together with imaged data taken by the imaging device.

8. The capsule endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the imaged data with at least a part of the signal processing data included in each frame to be a transmission unit at a time of transmitting the imaged data.

9. The capsule endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing data is added on an end side of the frame.

10. The capsule endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing data is added to a top end of the frame.

11. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the signal processing data together with an error correction code of the signal processing data.

12. The capsule endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the error correction code is acquired before shipment of the capsule endoscope in advance, and data of the error correction code is stored in the storage unit.

13. A capsule endoscope system comprising:

a capsule endoscope including

a storage unit that stores signal processing data necessary for signal processing specific to an imaging device of the capsule endoscope; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the signal processing data stored in the storage unit; and

a receiver that receives the signal processing data transmitted from the transmitting unit, wherein

the capsule endoscope does not perform signal processing specific to the imaging device but the receiver performs signal processing specific to the imaging device based on the received signal processing data.

14. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the signal processing data is a value acquired before shipment of the capsule endoscope in advance.

15. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the signal processing data is data of a white balance coefficient to be used when a white balancing process of the imaging device is performed.

16. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the signal processing data is data of an image of a chart for color signal processing which is taken by the imaging device.

17. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the signal processing data is data indicating an address of a defective pixel of the imaging device.

18. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the signal processing data is data indicating an offset value of the photoelectric conversion characteristic of the imaging device.

19. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the signal processing data together with imaged data taken by the imaging device.

20. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 19, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the imaged data with at least a part of the signal processing data included in each frame to be a transmission unit at a time of transmitting the imaged data.

21. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 19, wherein the signal processing data is added on an end side of the frame.

22. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 19, wherein the signal processing data is added to a top end of the frame.

23. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the signal processing data together with an error correction code of the signal processing data.

24. The capsule endoscope system according to claim 23, wherein the error capsule endoscope in advance, and data of the