Three-dimensional vision endoscope with position adjustment means for imaging device and visual field mask

• US 5,577,991 A
• Filed: 07/07/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Honma, Satoshi, Hanzawa, Toyoharu, Kanamori, Iwao, Karasawa, Hitoshi, Yoshino, Kenji, Mochida, Akihiko, Akui, Nobuaki, Takahashi, Susumu, Taguchi, Akihiro, Hashiguchi, Toshihiko, Fukaya, Takashi, Kubota, Tetsumaru, Nakada, Akio, Kidawara, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/499,648
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/45, 348/47, 348/49, 348/75, 600/103, 600/109, 600/111, 600/112, 600/166, 600/181, 359/377
• US Class Current: 600/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00194 adapted for three-dimensional imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• 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 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

A three-dimensional vision endoscopic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pair of optical systems for transmitting an image of a subject as two subject images having a parallax between them, a pair of imaging devices for picking up subject images transmitted by the optical systems, at least one visual field mask, a display unit for displaying the two subject images alternately or concurrently, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of one or both of the imaging devices so that the display images will become consistent on the screen of the display unit, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relative position of the visual field mask.

Claims

1. A three-dimension vision endoscope apparatus comprising:

a pair of optical systems for transmitting an image of a subject as two subject images having a parallax between them;

a pair of imaging means for picking up said subject images transmitted by said optical systems;

a display means including a screen for displaying said two subject images either alternately or concurrently;

an adjusting means for adjusting said subject images to be displayed, said subject images being displayed at specified distances from positions at which subject images enter said optical systems, said subject images being positionally aligned on said screen of said display means by said adjusting means, wherein said adjusting means is a mechanical adjustment means for adjusting the position of at least one of said imaging means along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of one of said pair of optical systems for transmitting said corresponding subject images; and

a visual field mask position adjustment mechanism including adjusting screws and a mask tube, wherein said adjusting screws are used to change the relative position of said mask tube, said mask tube including a visual field mask lying in a lens barrel including one of said pair of optical systems.

2. A three-dimensional vision endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visual field mask position adjustment mechanism is installed in both or either of proximal ends of said pair of optical systems.