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Publication Number
US-10983330-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A 3D video endoscope has a shaft which has the form of a flexible or rigid elongated hollow body, a first image sensor, a second image sensor, a first optical channel which comprises a first objective lens and a first optical image guiding system which forwards the image captured by the first objective lens to the first image sensor, a second optical channel which comprises a second objective lens and a second optical image guiding system which forwards the image captured by the second objective lens to the second image sensor. The first optical channel and second optical channel are substantially arranged in the shaft. The first optical channel has a first diaphragm which reduces the aperture of the first optical channel compared to the aperture of the second optical channel. Apart from the first diaphragm, the first optical channel and the second optical channel are structured identically.
Core Innovation
A 3D video endoscope uses a shaft in the form of a flexible or rigid elongated hollow body with a longitudinal axis. The endoscope includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor, together with a first optical channel and a second optical channel. Each optical channel includes a respective objective lens at a distal end of the shaft and a respective optical image guiding system that forwards an image from the objective lens to its image sensor.
The first optical channel and second optical channel are substantially arranged in the shaft, with the first optical channel aperture being smaller than the second optical channel aperture. The first optical channel is equipped with a first diaphragm that reduces the aperture of the first optical channel compared to the second optical channel aperture, where the first diaphragm is a pinhole. Apart from the first diaphragm, the first and second optical channels are structured identically so that the first objective lens has the same diameter as the second objective lens, and the first and second optical image guiding systems have the same outer diameter.
An image processing equipment creates three-dimensional images using the first images generated by the first image sensor and the second images generated by the second image sensor. During creation of the three-dimensional images, the adopted output brightness is the brightness of the second images, while the adopted depth of field is the depth of field of the first images.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim (clm-00001) directed to the full 3D video endoscope architecture and the brightness/depth-of-field adoption in the image processing stage. Dependent claims further refine the diaphragm aperture relationships, diaphragm placement, optional sensor placement, and optical-parameter relationships between channels (e.g., f-number differences).
Two substantially arranged optical channels with identical structure
A 3D video endoscope with a first optical channel and a second optical channel substantially arranged in the shaft, where the first optical channel and second optical channel are structured identically such that the first objective lens has the same diameter as the second objective lens and the first optical image guiding system and the second optical image guiding system have the same outer diameter.
A smaller-aperture first optical channel using a pinhole diaphragm
The first optical channel has an aperture smaller than the aperture of the second optical channel, and the first optical channel is equipped with a first diaphragm which reduces the aperture of the first optical channel compared to the aperture of the second optical channel, where the first diaphragm is a pinhole.
3D image creation adopting brightness from the second images and depth of field from the first images
Image processing equipment uses the first images generated by the first image sensor and the second images generated by the second image sensor to create three-dimensional images, and during creation adopts the brightness of the second images and the depth of field of the first images.
Coverage centers on a 3D video endoscope architecture with two substantially arranged optical channels that are otherwise structured identically, where the first channel aperture is reduced by a pinhole diaphragm, and where the image processing equipment creates 3D images while adopting brightness from the second channel and depth of field from the first channel.
Stated Advantages
Creates three-dimensional images while adopting the brightness of the second images and the depth of field of the first images.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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