ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

• US 20090290016A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: SUDA, Tadaaki
• Application Number:
  US12/466,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290016A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An endoscope system comprises a scope and a processor. The scope has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing, a first memory, and a second memory. The first and second memories are non-volatile. The processor has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing, and a processor memory that is non-volatile. The first memory stores an system data that includes parameters for the primary and secondary image processing. The processor memory stores the system data. The second memory is used for storing the system data stored in the processor memory when it is determined that the system data stored in the first memory is older than the system data stored in the processor memory. The system data stored in the second memory is overwritten onto the first scope memory after the system data is stored in the second memory.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, a first scope memory for image processing, and a second scope memory for updating;

said first scope memory being non-volatile, and said second scope memory being volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, a first processor memory for image processing, and a second processor memory for updating;

said first processor memory being non-volatile, and said second processor memory being volatile;

said first scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said first processor memory storing the system data;

said second scope memory being used for temporarily storing the system data stored in said first processor memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said first processor memory;

said second processor memory being used for temporarily storing the system data stored in said first scope memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first processor memory is older than the system data stored in said first scope memory;

the system data temporarily stored in said second scope memory being overwritten onto said first scope memory, after the system data is temporarily stored in said second scope memory; and

the system data temporarily stored in said second processor memory being overwritten onto said first processor memory, after the system data is temporarily stored in said second processor memory.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said first processor memory, after said scope and processor have been connected, and before said primary and secondary image processing commence.

3. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, and a scope memory for image processing, said scope memory being non-volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, a first processor memory for image processing, and a second processor memory for updating;

said first processor memory being non-volatile, and said second processor memory being volatile;

said scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said first processor memory storing the system data;

said second processor memory being used for temporarily storing the system data stored in said scope memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first processor memory is older than the system data stored in said scope memory; and

the system data temporarily stored in said second processor memory being overwritten onto said first processor memory, after the system data is temporarily stored in said second processor memory.

4. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, a first scope memory for image processing, and a second scope memory for updating;

said first scope memory being non-volatile, and said second scope memory being volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, and a processor memory for image processing;

said processor memory being non-volatile;

said first scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said processor memory storing the system data;

said second scope memory being used for temporarily storing the system data stored in said processor memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said processor memory; and

the system data temporarily stored in said second scope memory being overwritten onto said first scope memory, after the system data is temporarily stored in said second scope memory.

5. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, a first scope memory for image processing, and a second scope memory for updating;

said first scope memory and said second scope memory being non-volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, a first processor memory for image processing, and a second processor memory for updating;

said first processor memory and said second processor memory being non-volatile;

said first scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said first processor memory storing the system data;

said second scope memory being used for storing the system data stored in said first processor memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said first processor memory;

said second processor memory being used for storing the system data stored in said first scope memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first processor memory is older than the system data stored in said first scope memory;

the system data stored in said second scope memory being overwritten onto said first scope memory, after the system data is stored in said second scope memory; and

the system data stored in said second processor memory being overwritten onto said first processor memory, after the system data is stored in said second processor memory.

6. The endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said first processor memory, after said scope and processor have been connected, with said primary and secondary image processing being performed in parallel.

7. The endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein when storage of the system data to the second scope memory or said second processor memory is interrupted, said storage is resumed depending on a storage status of the system data stored in said second scope memory or said second processor memory.

8. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, and a scope memory for image processing;

said scope memory being non-volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, a first processor memory for image processing, and a second processor memory for updating;

said first processor memory and said second processor memory being non-volatile;

said scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said first processor memory storing the system data;

said second processor memory being used for storing the system data stored in said scope memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first processor memory is older than the system data stored in said scope memory; and

the system data stored in said second processor memory being overwritten onto said first processor memory, after the system data is stored in said second processor memory.

9. An endoscope system comprising:

a scope that has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing on an image signal obtained by said imaging sensor, a first scope memory for image processing, and a second scope memory for updating;

said first scope memory and said second scope memory being non-volatile; and

a processor that has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing on said image signal after said primary image processing, and a processor memory for image processing;

said processor memory being non-volatile;

said first scope memory storing system data that includes parameters used for said primary and secondary image processing, or includes firmware for said scope and said processor;

said processor memory storing the system data;

said second scope memory being used for storing the system data stored in said processor memory, when it is determined that the system data stored in said first scope memory is older than the system data stored in said processor memory; and

the system data stored in said second scope memory being overwritten onto said first scope memory, after the system data is stored in said second scope memory.