Capsule type endoscope and method for fabricating the same

• US 20060287580A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor Limited (Magnachip Semiconductor)
• Inventors: Moon, Jang-Sik, Jo, Wan-Hee
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• 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 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/63 applied to dark current

Abstract

An image sensor for a capsule type endoscope in which images are processed by a frame unit includes a control unit configured to generate a control signal to turn off a light emitting device installed out of the image sensor in every periodical frame among a plurality of frames.

Claims

1. An image sensor for a capsule type endoscope in which images are processed by a frame unit, comprising:

a control unit configured to generate a control signal to turn off a light emitting device installed out of the image sensor in every periodical frame among a plurality of frames.

2. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a frame counter for counting the frames and activating the control unit periodically.

3. The image sensor of claim 2, wherein the control unit further includes a punctured frame determination unit for determining whether the frames are punctured or not for low power consumption.

4. The image sensor of claim 3, wherein the frame counter does not count the punctured frames.

5. A capsule type endoscope system, comprising:

an image sensor including a control unit for generating a control signal to turn off a light emitting device in every periodical frame among a plurality of frames;

the light emitting device controlled in response to the control signal generated by the control unit; and

an image data compensation unit to compensate image data which are output signals of the image sensor.

6. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 5, wherein the image data compensation unit includes:

a black level compensation circuit to compensate a black level; and

a dark noise compensation circuit to compensate a dark noise.

7. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 6, wherein the black level compensation is performed by offsetting dark image frames against effective image frames.

8. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 6, wherein the black level compensation is performed by offsetting an average value of the dark image frames by each unit pixel against effective image frames.

9. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 8, wherein the dark noise compensation is performed by offsetting the average value of the dark image frames by each unit pixel against an average value of the effective image frames by each unit pixel.

10. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 5, wherein the control unit includes a frame counter for counting the frames and periodically activating the control unit.

11. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 10, wherein the control unit further includes a punctured frame determination unit for determining whether the frames are punctured or not for low power consumption.

12. The capsule type endoscope system of claim 11, wherein the frame counter does not count the punctured frames.

13. A method for controlling a light emitting device of an image sensor in which images are processed by a frame unit, comprising:

counting frames;

comparing a counted value with a light emitting device control signal generation setting value; and

generating a light emitting device control signal if the counted value is identical with the light emitting device control signal generation setting value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the counted value is not identical with the light emitting device control signal generation setting value, the counting of the frames is continuously performed.

15. The method of claim 13, before the counting of the frames, further comprising:

determining whether the frames are punctured for not for low power consumption; and

inactivating the counting of the frames if the frames are punctured.