METHOD OF MEASURING DISTANCE BY AN ENDOSCOPE, AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A method of measuring distance by an endoscope comprising the step of:
- imaging, measuring distance, and changing the step of imaging and the step of measuring distance,wherein the step of imaging comprisesmoving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit by controlling the moving joint on the basis of an direction instruction from an input unitandproducing out an image taken by the imaging unit, andwherein the step of measuring distance comprisesmoving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit by controlling the moving joint on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control,acquiring a first image taken before the step of moving on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control and a second image taken during the step of moving on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control, andcomputing a distance to a subject of interest on the basis of the first image, the second image and the amount of distance-measurement control.
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Abstract
A method of measuring distance by an endoscope includes a step of imaging and a step of measuring distance. the step of imaging includes a step of producing out an image taken by an imaging unit. The step of measuring distance includes a step of moving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit and a step of computing a distance to a subject of interest on the basis of a first image taken before the step of moving, a second image taken during the step of moving and the amount of distance-measurement control.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of measuring distance by an endoscope comprising the step of:
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imaging, measuring distance, and changing the step of imaging and the step of measuring distance, wherein the step of imaging comprises moving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit by controlling the moving joint on the basis of an direction instruction from an input unit and producing out an image taken by the imaging unit, and wherein the step of measuring distance comprises moving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit by controlling the moving joint on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control, acquiring a first image taken before the step of moving on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control and a second image taken during the step of moving on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control, and computing a distance to a subject of interest on the basis of the first image, the second image and the amount of distance-measurement control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
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8. A method of measuring distance by an endoscope comprising the step of:
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imaging by following-up and measuring distance, wherein the step of imaging by following-up comprises controlling the moving joint such that the axis of sighting of the imaging unit has a given angle with respect to a preset follow-up reference surface, producing out an image taken by the imaging unit, and wherein the step of measuring distance comprises computing a distance to a subject of interest by making use of a first image and a second image taken during the step of imaging by following-up, and an amount of movement of the endoscope between a point of time when the first image is taken and a point of time when the second image is taken.
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10. An endoscope system comprising:
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an imaging unit configured to be capable of acquiring an image; a moving joint configured to make an axis of sighting of the imaging unit movable; an input unit configured to be capable of entering an instruction about a direction of the moving joint; and a control unit configured to be capable of changeably implementing an imaging processing and a distance-measurement processing; wherein the imaging processing configured to controls the moving joint on the basis of the direction instruction from the input unit to move the axis of sighting of the imaging unit and produce out an image taken by the imaging unit; wherein the distance-measurement processing configured to control the moving joint on the basis of an amount of distance-measurement control to implement a movement processing for moving the axis of sighting of the imaging unit, and acquire a first image taken before implementation of the movement processing and a second image taken during implementation of the movement processing so that a distance to a subject of interest is computed on the basis of the first image, the second image and the amount of distance-measurement control. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification