MINIMIZE IMAGE SENSOR I/O AND CONDUCTOR COUNTS IN ENDOSCOPE APPLICATIONS

• US 20140275783A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Olive Medical Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Blanquart, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 10,750,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00018 using electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• 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 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/531 by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS

Abstract

The disclosure extends to systems and methods for reducing the area of an image sensor by employing bi-directional pads used for both image data issuance and configuration command reception and internal supply voltage generation, for reducing the number of conductors in an endoscope system.

Claims

1. An endoscopic device comprising:

a CMOS image sensor having an area sufficient to be located near a tip of a distal end of the endoscopic device;

a plurality of on-chip registers for configuring the image sensor operation; and

a plurality of pads having an output state and an input state for sending and receiving data;

wherein the pads automatically switch between the output state and the input state;

wherein when the pads are in the output state image data is output from the image sensor during a rolling-readout time frame and wherein when the pads are in the input state they receive control commands for the operation of the image sensor.

2. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising a frame period that is divided into three defined states:

a rolling-readout state during which image data is output through the pads,

a service-line state during which non-image data is output through the pads, and

a configuration state during which the instruction data is received by the image sensor through the pads.

3. The endoscopic device of claim 2, further comprising a state identifier that identifies what state the pads are in during an operation cycle over the system.

4. The endoscopic device of claim 2, wherein during the rolling-readout state and service-line state the camera system may not issue slow-control commands.

5. The endoscopic device of claim 2, further comprising an emitter wherein pulse control corresponds to the pad state.

6. The endoscopic device of claim 5, wherein a pulse is emitted during the configuration state.

7. The endoscopic device of claim 5, wherein a pulse is emitted during the service-line state.

8. The endoscopic device of claim 5, wherein a pulse is emitted during the service line-state and configuration state.

9. An endoscopic system comprising:

An endoscope comprising;

an image sensor disposed near a tip of a distal end of a lumen of the endoscope;

a plurality of on-chip registers for configuring the image sensor operation; and

a plurality of pads having an output state and an input state for sending and receiving data;

wherein the pads automatically switch between the output state and the input state wherein when the pads are in the output state image data is output from the image sensor during a rolling-readout time frame and wherein when the pads are in the input state they receive control commands for the operation of the image sensor;

a plurality of on-chip registers used to configure sensor operation;

wherein a plurality of the pads are incorporating bi-direction data pads that output issue image data during a defined portion of the frame timing, and output other types of data during another portion of the frame; and

wherein the pads switch direction and receive commands from the external camera system during a third defined time period during the specific frame time period.

10. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a serial command protocol used by a camera system to electronically communicate with the sensor when the pads are in a receive state.

11. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a protocol for configuring on-chip registers.

12. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a clock for coordinating the function of external devices in electronic communication with the endoscopic system.

13. The endoscopic system of claim 9, wherein the image sensor is a minimal area CMOS image sensor for use at a distal end of the endoscope.

14. The endoscopic system of claim 13, further comprising a voltage converter to provide power to at least the image sensor circuitry from an external power supply source.

15. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality voltage converters.

16. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the voltage converter is an up converter.

17. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the voltage converter is a down converter.

18. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a single signal of data to a sensor.

19. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of data signals to a sensor.

20. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a switch-cap DC-DC converter.

21. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a LDO converter.

22. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a switch-cap DC-DC converter and a LDO converter.

23. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising analog data from the device to the sensor and an analog to digital converter on the sensor to receive external device data.

24. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a standard serial protocol used to transmit digital data from device to sensor.

25. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a user interface having a button that may be pressed by an operator to aid in the operation of the endoscope.

26. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising an angle sensor to determine an angle of an endoscope lumen relative a hand-piece.

27. The endoscopic system of claim 26, wherein the angle sensor is of Hall Effect type.

28. The endoscopic system of claim 26, wherein the angle sensor is of potentiometer type.

29. The endoscopic system of claim 26, wherein the angle sensor is of optoelectronic type.

30. The endoscopic system of claim 9, further comprising a frame period that is divided into three defined states:

a rolling-readout state during which image data is output through the pads,

a service-line state during which non-image data is output through the pads, and

a configuration state during which the instruction data is received by the image sensor through the pads.

31. The endoscopic system of claim 30, further comprising a state identifier that identifies what state the pads are in during an operation cycle over the system.

32. The endoscopic system of claim 30, wherein during the rolling-readout state and service-line state the camera system may not issue slow-control commands.

33. The endoscopic system of claim 30, further comprising an emitter wherein pulse control corresponds to the pad state.

34. The endoscopic system of claim 33, wherein a pulse is emitted during the configuration state.

35. The endoscopic system of claim 33, wherein a pulse is emitted during the service-line state.

36. The endoscopic system of claim 33, wherein a pulse is emitted during the service line-state and configuration state.