ENDOSCOPY DEVICE SUPPORTING MULTIPLE INPUT DEVICES

• US 20110029733A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Blumzvig, Arie, Adler, Doron, Finkman, Shai
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote-head imaging system with a camera control unit capable of supporting multiple input devices. The camera control unit detects an input device to which it is connected and changes the camera control unit'"'"'s internal functionality accordingly. Such changes include altering clock timing, changing video output parameters, and changing image processing software. In addition, a user is able to select different sets of software program instructions and hardware configuration information based on the head that is attached. The remote-head imaging system utilizes field-programmable circuitry, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), in order to facilitate the change in configuration.

Claims

1. A camera control unit for controlling operation of a sensor head and for processing camera data received from the sensor head, the camera control unit comprising:

a reconfigurable controller for timing and control of the sensor head, for receiving camera data from the sensor head, and directing the camera data along a data path;

a digital signal processor for performing an image processing operation on the received camera data;

a persistent re-writeable memory for storing multiple sets of configuration information for configuring the reconfigurable controller to perform the timing and control, and for storing multiple sets of program instructions executable by the digital signal processor to perform the image processing operation;

an input device for receiving a selection of the set of program instructions and configuration information to be used by the digital signal processor and the reconfigurable controller; and

a system controller for loading the selected program instructions into the digital signal processor and for configuring the reconfigurable controller in accordance with the selected configuration information.

2. The camera control unit of claim 1, further including:

a display device which displays the set of program instructions and configuration information selectable by the input device.

3. The camera control unit of claim 2, wherein the controller controls the display device to display the set of available program instructions and configuration information stored within the persistent re-writeable memory in response to a detection of a sensor head type.

4. A camera control unit for controlling operation of a sensor head and for processing camera data received from the sensor head, the camera control unit comprising:

a reconfigurable controller for timing and control of the sensor head and for receiving camera data from the sensor head;

a digital signal processor for performing an image processing operation on the received camera data;

a persistent re-writeable memory for storing program instructions executable by the digital signal processor to perform the image processing operations, and for storing configuration information for configuring the reconfigurable controller to perform the timing and control; and

a system controller for loading the program instructions into the digital signal processor and for configuring the reconfigurable controller according to the configuration information.

5. The camera control unit of claim 4, wherein the persistent re-writeable memory is flash memory.

6. The camera control unit of claim 4, wherein the reconfigurable controller is a field-programmable gate array.

7. The camera control unit of claim 4, wherein the configuration information for the reconfigurable controller are compiled VHDL program instructions, and wherein the stored program instructions executable by the digital signal processor are executable codes.

8. The camera control unit of claim 4, further comprising a serial port interface.

9. The camera control unit of claim 8, wherein the controller loads program instructions and configuration information into the persistent re-writeable memory from a PC connected to the serial port interface.

10. The camera control unit of claim 8, wherein the controller loads programs instructions and configuration information into the persistent re-writeable memory from a quick swap flash memory device connected to the serial port interface.