Signal processor circuit for endoscope systems of all-pixels readout type

• US 5,929,900 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Kazuhiro, Higuchi, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAKER, LAVERIA E
• Application Number:
  US08/950,979
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/69, 348/70, 348/231, 348/202, 348/221, 348/220, 348/241, 348/257, 348/243, 348/251, 348/615, 348/689, 348/362, 600/101, 606/45
• US Class Current: 348/65
• 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 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/18 by means of "clamp" circuit operated by switching circuit

Abstract

A signal processor circuit which stabilizes a clamp processing of black levels even in an endoscope system of an all-pixels readout type and prevents image qualities from being degraded at a stage to shift from a still image to a moving image in particular. In this signal processor circuit, video signals of all picture elements obtained with a single exposure are read out of a CCD, odd line data is stored into a first memory, even line data is stored into a second memory, and mixed picture element signals are generated by a mixer circuit, whereafter a predetermined image processing is performed by a first DVP. A clamp circuit and an A/D converter are disposed at stages preceding the first and second memories, a through video signal output from the A/D converter is input into the first DVP by way of a selector circuit on the basis of an optical black pulse and a black level clamp signal generated on the basis of the through video signal is fed back to the clamp circuit. Accordingly, the signal processor circuit can perform a favorable clamp processing without using past data stored in the memories.

Claims

1. A signal processor circuit for endoscope systems of an all-pixels readout type comprising:

an image pickup device having a plurality of color filters arranged per pixel;

an image pickup device driving circuit which controls so as to read out video signals of all the pixels stored for each pixel by the image pickup device with a single exposure;

a clamp circuit which clamps the video signals read out of said image pickup device with a feedback clamp signal;

memories for storing the video signals from said clamp circuit;

a selector circuit which is connected at a stage after said memories, receives a through video signal from a circuit disposed at a stage preceding said memories, and selectively outputs the video signals in said memories and said through video signal; and

a signal processor circuit which is disposed at a stage subsequent to said selector circuit, performs a predetermined processing of the video signals and generates a feedback clamp signal from said through video signal,

wherein a feedback clamp signal which is output from said signal processor circuit on the basis of the through video signal is supplied to said clamp circuit.

2. A signal processor circuit for endoscope systems of an all-pixels readout type according to claim 1, wherein said selector circuit is configured to switch the signals at a timing of an optical black pulse.

3. A signal processor circuit for endoscope systems of an all-pixels readout type according to claim 1, wherein operation of said selector circuit is executed only at a stage to shift to a moving image after a still image formation processing is started.

4. A signal processor circuit for endoscope systems of an all-pixels readout type according to claim 1,

wherein said image pickup device controls so as to first read out video signals from lines having odd or even numbers and then read out video signals from remaining lines stored by said image pickup device per pixel with a single exposure,

wherein said memories store the video signals from said lines having the odd numbers and video signals from said lines having the even numbers which are obtained from said image pickup device,

wherein said signal processor circuit comprises light beam intercepting means which intercepts an illumination light beam so that picture element signals are not stored in said image pickup device for a predetermined time for which video signals are read out by said image pickup device driving circuit, wherein said signal processor circuit comprises a mixer circuit which generates simultaneous type video signals by mixing the video signals from said lines having the odd numbers and said lines having the even numbers which are read out of said memories, and wherein said signal processor circuit is configured so as to form field images on the basis of mixed pixel signals output from said mixer circuit.