Wide dynamic range using monochromatic sensor
First Claim
1. A digital imaging method for use with an endoscope in ambient light deficient environments comprising:
- illuminating the environment with pulsed electromagnetic radiation;
sensing a plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor;
receiving image data from said pixel array corresponding to the plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation;
creating a plurality of exposed frames from said image data, wherein each exposed frame corresponds to a different exposure;
emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a predefined portion of a frame readout period of the image sensor during which pulse sensitive pixels are not being read;
creating a single display frame from the plurality of exposed frames; and
creating a stream of images by sequentially combining a plurality of display frames taken using the plurality of differing exposures to provide increased dynamic range.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital imaging method for use with an endoscope in ambient light deficient environments is disclosed. In an implementation, the method may include illuminating the environment with pulsed electromagnetic radiation and sensing differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor. The method may further include receiving image data from the pixel array that corresponds to the differing exposures. The method may include creating exposed frames from the image data, where each frame corresponds with a different exposure. The method may further include emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a blanking period. The method may further include creating a display frame from the exposed frames. The method may further include creating a stream of images by sequentially combining display frames taken using the differing exposures to provide increased dynamic range.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A digital imaging method for use with an endoscope in ambient light deficient environments comprising:
-
illuminating the environment with pulsed electromagnetic radiation; sensing a plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor; receiving image data from said pixel array corresponding to the plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation; creating a plurality of exposed frames from said image data, wherein each exposed frame corresponds to a different exposure; emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a predefined portion of a frame readout period of the image sensor during which pulse sensitive pixels are not being read; creating a single display frame from the plurality of exposed frames; and creating a stream of images by sequentially combining a plurality of display frames taken using the plurality of differing exposures to provide increased dynamic range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A digital imaging method for use with an endoscope in ambient light deficient environments comprising:
-
illuminating the environment with pulsed electromagnetic radiation; sensing a plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor; receiving image data from said pixel array corresponding to the plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation; creating a plurality of exposed frames from said image data, wherein each exposed frame corresponds to a different exposure; emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a predefined portion of a frame readout period of the image sensor during which pulse sensitive pixels are not being read; creating a stream of images by sequentially combining a plurality of display frames taken using the plurality of differing exposures to provide increased dynamic range; and pulsing an emitter to produce a pattern of luminance long exposed combined with luminance short exposed then chrominance blue then luminance long exposed combined with luminance short exposed then chrominance red in a cycle.
-
-
18. A digital imaging method for use with an endoscope in ambient light deficient environments comprising:
-
illuminating the environment with pulsed electromagnetic radiation; sensing a plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation with a pixel array of an image sensor; receiving image data from said pixel array corresponding to the plurality of differing exposures of reflected electromagnetic radiation; creating a plurality of exposed frames from said image data, wherein each exposed frame corresponds to a different exposure; emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a predefined portion of a frame readout period of the image sensor during which pulse sensitive pixels are not being read; creating a stream of images by sequentially combining a plurality of display frames taken using the plurality of differing exposures to provide increased dynamic range; and pulsing an emitter to produce a pattern of luminance long exposed combined with luminance short exposed then chrominance blue long exposed combined with chrominance blue short exposed then luminance long exposed combined with luminance short exposed then chrominance red long exposed combined with chrominance red short exposed in a cycle.
-
Specification