Color imaging system

• US 5,278,642 A
• Filed: 02/26/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, William R., Danna, Dominick A., West, Teresa M., Lia, Raymond A., Newman, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/841,570
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/41, 358/42, 358/44, 358/55, 358/58, 358/49, 358/50, 358/100, 128/4, 128/6, 356/241
• US Class Current: 348/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A color camera employs a monochrome imager and a color filter plate that is divided into a plurality of primary color filter sections. The filter sections can be individually shuttered electronically for transmitting color sequential images onto the imager. In one embodiment there are red, blue, and green color filter sectors that radiate from a center at the optic axis of the camera. In an alternative embodiment, concentric annular color filters are provided.

Claims

1. A color imaging and viewing system for borescope or endoscope, comprising a camera assembly that includes an imager having an image plane, a focusing lens assembly for focusing on the imager an image of a target in the viewing field of said camera assembly, a stationary filter plate fixedly interposed in the optical path of said camera assembly adjacent to said lens assembly, having a plurality of primary color filter means therein situated in respective zones of the filter plate, and selective means for selectively shuttering said color filter means in turn to pass respective color images of the target onto said imager to produce a color sequential color video signal.

2. A color imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said primary filter means includes red, green, and blue filters formed as respective sectors, each radiating out from the optic axis of said lens assembly.

3. A color imaging system according to claim 2, wherein said color filter plate also includes a clear sector radiating from the optic axis.

4. A color imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said filter means includes red, green, and blue filters formed as respective concentric annular zones centered on the optic axis of said lens assembly.

5. A color imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising viewing means coupled to said imager to receive said color sequential video signal therefrom and visually display a full color view of the target.

6. A color imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising storage means coupled to said imager to receive said color sequential video signal therefrom and store therein a full color view of the target.

7. A color imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said filter plate has red, green, and blue filters formed thereon as respective concentric annular zones centered on the optic axis of said lens assembly.

8. A color imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising an aperture plate disposed adjacent said lens assembly for controlling the effective apperture of said lens assembly.

9. A color imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said selective means includes electronically controllable shutter devices disposed adjacent said primary color filter means.

10. A color imaging system according to claim 9 wherein said electronically controllable shutter devices includes liquid crystal shutters.

11. An illuminating and imaging camera system comprising a camera assembly that includes an imager having an image plane, a focusing lens assembly for focusing on the imager plane of said imager an image of a target in the viewing field of said camera assembly, an illuminating conduit carrying illumination forward and emitting light from said camera system onto said target, a stationary filter fixedly disposed in the path of the light emitted from said conduit and having primary color filter means therein situated in respective zones of the filter plate, and selective means for selectively shuttering said color filter means in turn to produce a sequence of color illumination.