DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EFFECTS OF VIDEO ARTIFACTS

• US 20070279486A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PSIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bayer, Lex, Robert, Okas
• Granted Patent: US 8,310,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000094 extracting biological structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0125 Endoscope within endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0625 for multiple fixed illumination angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end

Abstract

A method for reducing an effect of a video artifact includes adjusting a phase of a second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a phase of a first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal. An endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that reduces an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device. In some embodiments, the first imaging device faces the light source.

Claims

1. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

a light source; and

a controller that reduces an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device.

2. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the first imaging device faces the light source.

3. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

4. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

5. The endoscopic system of claim 4, wherein the controller adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

6. The endoscopic system of claim 5, wherein the controller moves the artifact by adjusting a phase of the light source relative to the imaging devices.

7. The endoscopic system of claim 6, wherein the controller moves the artifact vertically.

8. The endoscopic system of claim 5, wherein the controller reduces a size of the artifact by decreasing the duty cycle of the light source.

9. The endoscopic system of claim 5, wherein the controller adjusts a phase of the light source so that the light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval.

10. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprising:

a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device.

11. The endoscopic system of claim 10, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

12. The endoscopic system of claim 10, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

13. The endoscopic system of claim 12, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

14. The endoscopic system of claim 13, wherein the controller includes a light source driver, wherein the light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal.

15. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the light source driver moves the artifact by adjusting a phase of the light source relative to the imaging devices.

16. The endoscopic system of claim 15, wherein the light source driver moves the artifact vertically.

17. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the light source driver reduces a size of the artifact by decreasing the duty cycle of the light source.

18. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the light source driver adjusts a phase of the light source so that the light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval.

19. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

a light source; and

a controller that adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and that varies a phase difference between video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices to reduce an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device.

20. A device for reducing an effect of an artifact produced by an endoscopic system including a first imaging device, a second imaging device, and a light source, the device comprising:

a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising a light source driver, wherein the light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the light source driver moves the artifact by adjusting a phase of the light source relative to the imaging devices.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the light source driver moves the artifact vertically.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the light source driver reduces a size of the artifact by decreasing the duty cycle of the light source.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the light source driver adjusts a phase of the light source so that the light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval.

29. A method for reducing an effect of a video artifact, comprising

adjusting a frequency of a second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of a first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising adjusting a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a phase of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising moving the artifact by adjusting a phase of a light source relative to the imaging devices.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising reducing a size of the artifact by decreasing the duty cycle of a light source.

32. The method of claim 32, wherein the moving step includes moving the artifact vertically.

35. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

a light source; and

a controller that adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and that varies a phase difference between video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices.

36. An endoscopic system controller including a first imaging device, a second imaging device, and a light source, the controller device comprising:

a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device.

34. The method of claim 37, further comprising adjusting a phase of the light source so that the light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about zero.

40. The device of claim 39, further comprising a light source driver, wherein the light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal.

41. The device of claim 37, wherein the light source driver adjusting a phase of the light source relative to the imaging devices.

43. The device of claim 37, wherein the light source driver drives the light for only a portion of a full duty cycle.

44. The device of claim 37, wherein the light source driver adjusts a phase of the light source so that the light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval.

45. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a first light source;

a second imaging device;

a second light source, wherein the first imaging device and light source face the second imaging device and light source; and

a controller including a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device so that image frames of the imaging devices have the same frequency and are in phase, wherein the first imaging device and light source are powered on during one half of the frame period, and wherein the second imaging device and light source are powered on during the other half of the frame period.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the frame frequency is sufficiently high such that eyes cannot sense that the first and second imaging devices and their light sources are intermittently powered on and off.

47. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

a first light source;

a second light source, and

a controller that adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and that varies the phase difference between video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices to be of opposite phase.

48. An endoscopic system controller including a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a first light source, a second light source, the controller device comprising:

a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about 180°

out of phase.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a phase between the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal and the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal is about opposite.

52. The device of claim 51, further comprising a first light source driver and a second light source, wherein the first light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal.

53. The device of claim 49, wherein the first light source driver adjusting a phase of the first light source relative to the first imaging devices and the second light source driver adjusts a phase of the second light source relative to the first imaging device

54. The device of claim 49, wherein the light sources driver drives the lights for only a portion of a full duty cycle.

55. The device of claim 49, wherein the first light source driver adjusts a phase of the first light source so that the first light source is powered on only when the first imaging device is acquiring an image, and wherein the second light source driver adjusts a phase of the second light source so that the second light source is powered on only when the second imaging device is acquiring an image.

56. The device of claim 53, where the first light source driver and second light source driver are of opposite phase

57. An endoscopic system comprising:

a first imaging device;

a first light source;

a second imaging device;

a second light source, wherein the first imaging device and light source face the second imaging device and light source; and

a controller including a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device so that image frames of the imaging devices have the same frequency and are in phase, wherein the first imaging device acquires an image and the first light source is powered on during one half of the frame period, and wherein the second imaging device acquires an image and the second light source is powered on during the other half of the frame period.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the frame frequency is sufficiently high such that eyes cannot sense that the first and second imaging devices and their light sources are intermittently utilized.

59. A method for reducing light interference between a first imaging device and light source and a second imaging device and light source of an endoscopic system, wherein the first imaging device and light source face the second imaging device and light source, the method comprising:

using a phase lock loop circuit to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device so that image frames of the imaging devices have the same frequency and are in phase; and

powering the first imaging device and light source on during one half of the frame period, and powering the second imaging device and light source on during the other half of the frame period.

60. A method for reducing light interference between a first imaging device and light source and a second imaging device and light source of an endoscopic system, wherein the first imaging device and light source face the second imaging device and light source, the method comprising:

adjusting a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device'"'"'s video synchronization signal;

adjusting the phase difference between the video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices to be of opposite phase.