Signal processing apparatus with a movement detecting device and an outline enhancement device

• US 4,933,758 A
• Filed: 07/24/1989
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchikubo, Akinobu, Saito, Katsuyuki, Sasaki, Masahiko, Uehara, Masao, Kanno, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/385,594
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/105, 358/96, 358/166, 358/125, 128/4-6
• US Class Current: 348/71
• 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 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction

Abstract

The signal processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a video signal producing circuit for producing a standard video signal by processing an image signal representing an image of an object, a movement detecting circuit for detecting the movement quantity of the object from the video signal and an outline enhancing circuit provided after the movement detecting circuit for enhancing the outline of the image.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

a video signal producing means for producing a standard video signal by processing an image signal representing an image of an object to be imaged;

a movement detecting circuit for detecting a movement quantity which quantatively represents movement of said object from said video signal;

an external output terminal for receiving said video signal and for outputting said video signal outside of said signal processing apparatus; and

an outline enhancing means, provided between said movement detecting circuit and said external output terminal, for enhancing an outline of the image.

2. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movement detecting circuit comprises a plurality of difference signal producing means for producing difference signals representing a change of a level of respective plural image signals representing images of the object imaged at different times, a correlation detecting means for detecting correlation of said plural difference signals and a quantifying means for quantifying a signal output detected by said correlation detecting means.

3. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said movement detecting circuit further has a delaying means for delaying the image signal by one field or one frame.

4. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outline enhancing means is formed of a horizontal direction outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in a horizontal direction.

5. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outline enhancing means is formed of a vertical direction outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in a vertical direction.

6. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outline enhancing means is a horizontal and vertical outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outlines in a horizontal and vertical directions.

7. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said outline enhancing means is further a multi-outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in an oblique direction.

8. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 further having between the movement detecting circuit and said video signal producing means, a switching means for selectively inputting said image signal into aid outline enhancing means.

9. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

an electronic endoscope provided with an elongate insertable part, an objective optical system provided on a tip part side of said insertable part and forming an image of an object, an image device photoelectrically converting the image based on said objective optical system and an illuminating light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from the tip part side of said insertable part;

a driving signal outputting means for outputting a driving signal to output an image signal from said imaging device;

a video signal processing means having an image storing means for temporarily storing said image signal as a still picture and producing a standard video signal from said image signal;

a displaying means for displaying said standard video signal on a monitor;

a movement detecting circuit formed of a plurality of difference signal producing means for producing difference signals representing a change of a level of respective plural image signals representing images of the object imaged at different times by said imaging means, a correlation detecting means for detecting the correlation of a plurality of difference signals and a quantifying means for quantifying the signal output detected by said correlation detecting means; and

an outline enhancing means, provided between said movement detecting circuit and said displaying means, for enhancing an outline of the image.

10. An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said movement detecting circuit further has a delaying means for delaying the image signal by one field or one frame.

11. An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said light emitting means sequentially emits lights in wavelength regions different from each other.

12. An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said imaging device has color separating filters arranged on a front surface.

13. An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said light emitting means emits a white color light.

14. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said outline enhancing means is formed of a horizontal direction outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in a horizontal direction.

15. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said outline enhancing means is formed of a vertical outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in a vertical direction.

16. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said outline enhancing means is a horizontal and vertical outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outlines in horizontal and vertical directions.

17. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said outline enhancing means is further a multi-outline enhancing circuit for enhancing the outline in an oblique direction.

18. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 9 further having between the movement detecting circuit and the video signal processing means, a switching means for selectively said image signal into said outline enhancing means.