Color endoscope with charge coupled device and television viewing

• US RE31,289 E
• Filed: 07/10/1981
• Issued: 06/28/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Richard W., Danna, Dominick, Moore, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US06/282,086
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 128/3-8, 350/96.26, 356/241, 358/1, 358/11, 358/98, 358/901
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/2255 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscope, borescope
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2256 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/045 using solid-state devices scanning of colour motion picture films H04N9/11; Imager structures H01L27/146

Abstract

A color endoscope having a component viewing head that is easily inserted into a relatively small opening or cavity and an electrical section that is capable of producing a readout signal containing full color image information that is compatible with standard format television for storing, displaying or otherwise processing the color information.

Claims

1. An endoscope for providing color information in a form that is capable of being displayed on a standard format video receiver utilizing odd and even interlaced fields for each frame of information displayed, the endoscope including

a viewing head that is capable of being inserted into a body cavity that contains a self-scanning solid state imaging device for recording light images of objects positioned in the viewing region of the head and providing a line by line electrical read-out signal containing the recorded information,

lighting means for bringing illumination from a remote location into the viewing region of said viewing head to sequentially light the viewing region with light of primary colors during each field related period so that read-out signals relating to the color images recorded by the imaging device are clocked out of the device in a sequential flow relationship,

a first memory unit for individually storing read-out signals regarding each of the primary colors clocked out of the imaging device for display during an even field period,

a second memory unit for individually storing read-out signals regarding each of the primary colors clocked out of the imaging device for display during an odd field period, and

switching means for forwarding the signals stored in said first memory unit simultaneously to a transmitter matrix for .[.combining the color information into composite luminance and chrominance signals for.]. display in a .[.standard format.]. television receiver during an even field period and for forwarding signals stored in said second memory unit simultaneously to said matrix for display during an odd field period.

2. The endoscope of claim 1 that further includes means for periodically updating the information stored in each memory unit.

3. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein said lighting means further includes an individual light source for each primary color with the light sources being remotely positioned in regard to the viewing head and having flexible light transmitting means for bringing light from each source to the viewing head.

4. The endoscope of claim 3 wherein said light transmitting means includes a fiber optics bundle that is divided at the light input end into a plurality of light input branches that are equal in number to the number of light sources with each branch being arranged to deliver light from one of said sources into the bundle.

5. The endoscope of claim 4 further including timing means for activating each light source in an ordered sequence.

6. An endoscope for providing a full color video display including

a viewing head that is capable of being inserted into a body cavity, the head containing a charge coupled device (CCD) for recording visual information of objects situated in the viewing region of the head and, in response thereto, providing a line by line electrical output signal containing the recorded information,

a plurality of light sources, each of which is capable of producing light of a primary color, said light sources being located at a location that is remote from the viewing head whereby the light sources remain outside of the body cavity.

a randomly dispersed fiber optic bundle that is arranged to bring the illumination from each source into the viewing head to illuminate the viewing region,

activating means for illuminating each lamp in an ordered sequence whereby the viewing region is illuminated with light of each primary color,

memory means being arranged to accept the output signals of the charged coupled device and to individually store the signals relating to each of the primary colors, and

switching means for periodically forwarding the signal information stored in the memory means simultaneously to a transmitter matrix for combining the color information signals into composite luminance and chrominance signals that are compatible with a standard format television receiver.

7. The endoscope 6 wherein said memory means has a first section for storing information for display during an even field period and a second memory for storing information for display during an odd field period.

8. The endoscope of claim 7 further including means for periodically updating the information contained in each memory section.