Camera head with digital memory for storing information about the image sensor

• US 6,295,082 B1
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dowdy, Clifford A., Burnett, Michael R., Fields, William P., Womack, Garry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, RICHARD J
• Application Number:
  US08/659,427
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, 348/72, 348/74, 348/75, 348/65, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/247
• US Class Current: 348/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

An apparatus sends electrical signals that represent an optical image to a processor for conversion to video signals suitable for display on a display device. The apparatus includes a device for insertion into a region to be viewed for developing an optical image of the region, an imager for generating electrical signals that represent the optical image, and a digital memory for storing information about the imager. The device is adapted to be connected to the processor so that the processor can receive the electrical signals from the imager and obtain information from the digital memory. The processor uses the information from the digital memory in performing the conversion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing electrical signals that represent an optical image to a processor for conversion to video signals that represent said optical image and which are suitable for display on a display device, said apparatus comprising,

a device operable to be inserted into a region to be viewed for developing an optical image of said region,

an imager supported by said device and operable to generate electrical signals that represent said optical image,

a digital memory supported by said device and storing information about said imager for use by the processor in converting the electrical signals produced by said imager to said video signals that represent said optical image, said information including information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager relative to nominal performance characteristics, and

said device being adapted for connection to the processor so that the processor can receive said electrical signals from said imager and obtain said information from said digital memory for use in converting the electrical signals from said imager to said video signals that represent said optical image, wherein said received electrical signals are distinct from said information from said digital memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes information identifying a configuration of said imager.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said information identifying said configuration of said imager includes information identifying a location of said imager relative to said device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said information identifying said location of said imager relative to said device indicates that said imager is located at a distal end of said device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said information identifying said location of said imager relative to said device indicates that said imager is located at a proximal end of said device.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said imager includes a charge coupled device and said information identifying a configuration of said imager identifies an optical format size of said charge coupled device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor and storage for values of said nominal performance characteristics, said processor being operable to receive said electrical signals from said imager, to obtain said information from said digital memory, and to convert said electrical signals to video signals that represent said optical image and are suitable for display using said information and said values of said nominal performance characteristics.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises an endoscope.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising optics for producing said optical image, wherein said information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager accounts for variations in performance characteristics of said optics relative to nominal performance characteristics.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said imager includes a charge coupled device and said information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager accounts for variations in performance characteristics of said charge coupled device relative to nominal performance characteristics.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cable for connection to said processor, wherein said information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager accounts for variations in performance characteristics of said cable relative to nominal performance characteristics.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager relative to nominal performance characteristics identifies variations in luminance reproduction of said imager.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said imager relative to nominal performance characteristics identifies variations in color reproduction of said imager.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes information identifying characteristics of said region to be viewed by said imager.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device is adapted for connection to said processor so that said processor can update information stored in said digital memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes run time information that measures wear on said imager, and wherein said device is adapted so that said processor updates the run time information.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital memory is a non-volatile storage device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the non-volatile storage device is an EEPROM.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to be autoclavable without damage to the apparatus.

19. Apparatus for representing an optical image as video signals suitable for display on a display device, said apparatus comprising:

a device operable to produce electrical signals representative of an optical image of a region to be viewed, said device including;

a portion operable to be inserted into said region to be viewed for developing an optical image of said region,

an imager operable to generate electrical signals that represent said optical image, and

a digital memory storing information about said device; and

a processor connected by a cable to said device, said processor being operable to receive said electrical signals from said imager over said cable, to access said digital memory and read said information from said digital memory over said cable, and to convert said electrical signals using said information to video signals that represent said optical image and are suitable for display, wherein said received electrical signals are distinct from said information from said digital memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes information identifying a configuration of said device, and wherein said processor modifies said conversion based on said configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said processor stores information identifying nominal values of performance characteristics for said device, said digital memory includes information identifying variations in performance characteristics of said device relative to said nominal values of performance characteristics, and said processor modifies said conversion based on said variations in performance characteristics.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said processor updates information stored in said digital memory.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes run time information of said device, said processor updating the run time information.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processor converts said electrical signals into said video signals during a first time period and not during a second time period, said processor updating the information stored in the digital memory only during said second time period.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a driver that produces driving signals for said imager, wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes information identifying a configuration of said device, and wherein said processor signals said driver to modify said driving signals based on the information identifying the configuration of said device.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes verification information that verifies whether said information stored in said digital memory is valid, and wherein said processor uses said verification information to determine whether said information stored in said digital memory is valid and whether said processor has received said information correctly.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a memory having entries in which are stored signal processing parameters used by said processor in performing said conversion, and wherein said processor modifies said conversion by modifying entries of said memory that relate to information received from said digital memory of said device.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said device is configured to be autoclavable without damage to the device.

30. Apparatus for providing electrical signals that represent an optical image to a processor for conversion to video signals suitable for display on a display device, said apparatus comprising:

a device operable to be inserted into a region to be viewed for developing an optical image of said region,

an imager supported by said device and operable to generate electrical signals that represent said optical image,

a digital memory supported by said device and storing information identifying variations in luminance reproduction of said imager relative to nominal luminance reproduction for use by the processor in converting the electrical signals produced by said imager to video signals, and

said device being adapted for connection to the processor so that the processor can receive said electrical signals from said imager and obtain said information from said digital memory for use in converting the electrical signals from said imager to video signals, wherein said electrical signals from said imager are distinct from said information from said digital memory.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the information stored in said memory is suitable to permit the processor to correct for luminance reproduction variations in the imager-produced electrical signals.

32. Apparatus for providing electrical signals that represent an optical image to a processor for conversion to video signals suitable for display on a display device, said apparatus comprising,

a device operable to be inserted into a region to be viewed for developing an optical image of said region,

an imager supported by said device and operable to generate electrical signals that represent said optical image,

a digital memory supported by said device and storing information identifying variations in color reproduction of said imager relative to nominal color reproduction for use by the processor in converting the electrical signals produced by said imager to video signals, and

said device being adapted for connection to the processor so that the processor can receive said electrical signals from said imager and obtain said information from said digital memory for use in converting the electrical signals from said imager to video signals, wherein said electrical signals from said imager are distinct from said information from said digital memory.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the information stored in said memory is suitable to permit the processor to correct for color reproduction variations in the imager-produced electrical signals.

34. An endoscope for providing electrical signals that represent an optical image of an object, comprising,

a housing, at least a portion of which is configured to be inserted into a region to be viewed for developing an optical image of said region,

an imager mounted in said housing and operable to generate electrical signals that represent said optical image,

a digital memory mounted in said housing and storing information identifying variations in said electrical signals relative to nominal values of said electrical signals, and

circuitry operable to provide said electrical signals and said information to an output of said endoscope, wherein said electrical signals from said imager are distinct from said information from said digital memory.

35. The endoscope of claim 34 wherein said information stored in said digital memory includes information identifying a configuration of said imager.

36. The endoscope of claim 35 wherein said information identifying said configuration of said imager includes information identifying a location of said imager within said housing.

37. The endoscope of claim 35 wherein said imager includes a charge coupled device and said information identifying a configuration of said imager identifies an optical format size of said charge coupled device.

38. The endoscope of claim 34 further comprising optics for producing said optical image, wherein said information stored in said memory accounts for variations in performance characteristics of said optics relative to nominal performance characteristics.

39. The endoscope of claim 34 wherein said information stored in said memory identifies variations in luminance reproduction of said imager.

40. The endoscope of claim 34 wherein said information stored in said memory identifies variations in color reproduction of said imager.