Remote CCD video camera with non-volatile digital memory

• US 6,313,868 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Linvatec Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: DʼAlfonso, David A., Christoff, Jordan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): An, Shawn S.
• Application Number:
  US09/296,215
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/72, 348/74, 348/76, 348/82, 348/83, 348/84, 348/85, 600/109, 600/110, 600/112, 600/160, 600/172
• US Class Current: 348/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• 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 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A video camera system is described which may store operating parameter information for reading by the system to provide optimum operating conditions, which may collect information reflecting system uses for later reading by the system to provide a performance history, and which is relatively small and operates with a reduced number of electrical lines to transmit electrical information.

Claims

1. An endoscopic video camera system, comprising:

control circuitry for actuating an imager to produce a video signal and for processing the video signal produced by the imager;

a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, and also remotely coupled to the control circuitry, said camera head comprising an imager for producing a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; and

a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which is stored first data representative of at least one characteristic associated with the camera head;

said control circuitry further comprising a processor which is configured, upon said camera head being operatively engaged to said control circuitry, to read said first data.

2. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further adapted to configure said control circuitry responsive to the first data, thus adapting said control circuitry to said camera head.

5. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said at least one characteristic includes a characteristic of said imager.

6. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said at least one characteristic includes a characteristic of said endoscope.

7. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said first data is predetermined data stored in said memory device during manufacture of said camera head.

8. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said first data is written into said memory device after manufacture of said camera head.

9. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to update second data stored in said memory device indicative of the number of times the camera head has been used.

10. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to update second data stored in said memory device indicative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized.

11. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein said memory device is an EEPROM.

12. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein the camera head is configured for coupling to a proximal end of an endoscope through an optical coupler.

13. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 1 wherein the camera head further comprises the memory device.

3. An endoscopic video camera systems comprising:

control circuitry for actuating an imager to produce a video signal and for processing the video signal produced by the imager;

a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, and also remotely coupled to the control circuitry, said camera head comprising;

an imager for producing a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; and

a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which is stored first data representative of at least one characteristic associated with the camera head;

said control circuitry further comprising a processor which is configured, upon said camera head being operatively engaged to said control circuitry, to read said first data; and

wherein said control circuitry is detachably coupled to the control head through at least one signal line.

4. The endoscopic video camera system of claim 3 wherein said control circuitry is configured to actuate said imager through at least one signal transmitted over said at least one signal line, and said control circuitry is configured to modify said at least one signal responsive to the first data.

14. An endoscopic video camera system, comprising:

control circuitry for actuating an imager to produce a video signal and for processing the video signal produced by the imager;

a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, and also remotely coupled to the control circuitry, said camera head comprising an imager for producing a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry; and

a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device;

said control circuitry further comprising a processor which is configured, upon said camera head being operatively engaged to said control circuitry, to access said memory device through at least one signal line throughout a first time period, and said control circuitry is configured to actuate said imager over said at least one signal line during a second time period which is distinct from and does not overlap the first time period.

15. A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of:

providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope;

storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized;

predetermining second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and

comparing said first data with said second data and based on the comparison either (1) permitting continued use of said camera head;

or (2) providing an end-of-life signal.

16. A method for adjusting at least one operating parameter of a semiconductor imager in an endoscopic camera head comprising the steps of:

providing a camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said camera head including a semiconductor imager having at least one predetermined operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry;

storing in a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device data representative of said at least one operating parameter; and

adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said data to provide a signal representative of said at least one operating parameter to said semiconductor imager.

17. A method for interchanging first and second endoscopic video camera heads comprising the steps of:

providing a first camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said first camera head including a first semiconductor imager configured to produce a video signal upon actuation by control circuitry and further including a first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said first camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry;

operatively engaging the first camera head to control circuitry so that the first configured to actuate a semiconductor imager in a camera head and to process the video signal produced by said imager;

storing in said first readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the first camera head has been used;

predetermining second data representative of the number of uses to which said first camera head should be limited;

comparing said first data with said second data and either (1) permitting continued use of said first camera head;

or (2) providing an end-of-life signal;

providing a second camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said second camera head including a second semiconductor imager having an operating parameter and configured to produce a video signal upon being actuated by control circuitry and further including a second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said second camera head being remotely coupled to the control circuitry;

storing in said second readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device third data representative of said operating parameter; and

if the end-of-life signal is provided, performing the following steps;

interchanging said first and second camera heads, and operatively engaging the second camera head to the control circuitry;

reading said third data representative of said operating parameter from said second memory device; and

adjusting said control circuitry responsive to said third data to provide a signal representative of said operating parameter to said second imager.

18. A method for determining the number of times an endoscopic camera head has been sterilized comprising the steps of:

providing a sterilizable camera head configured for placement along an optical path extending through an endoscope, said sterilizable camera head including a readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device;

storing in said readable and writeable non-volatile semiconductor memory device first data representative of the number of times the camera head has been sterilized;

comparing said first data with predetermined second data representative of the number of sterilization cycles to which said camera head should be limited; and

determining whether an end-of-life signal should be provided.