Abstract: An endoscopic image processing apparatus includes a memory configured to store a threshold THn to determine a dark region in the near-point image inputted, a brightness correction circuit configured to perform brightness correction on the near-point image based on the threshold THn depending on timing of acquiring the near-point image and perform second brightness correction on the far-point image based on a threshold THf on the far-point image, and a light distribution state determination circuit configured to determine whether a light distribution state of a live image from an endoscope is a light distribution state of the near-point image. The brightness correction circuit, in the timing of acquiring the near-point image, performs the first brightness correction when the light distribution state determination circuit determines that the light distribution state of the live image is the light distribution state of the near-point image.

Abstract: An endoscopic image processing apparatus includes a memory configured to store a threshold THn to determine a dark region in the near-point image inputted, a brightness correction circuit configured to perform brightness correction on the near-point image based on the threshold THn depending on timing of acquiring the near-point image and perform second brightness correction on the far-point image based on a threshold THf on the far-point image, and a light distribution state determination circuit configured to determine whether a light distribution state of a live image from an endoscope is a light distribution state of the near-point image. The brightness correction circuit, in the timing of acquiring the near-point image, performs the first brightness correction when the light distribution state determination circuit determines that the light distribution state of the live image is the light distribution state of the near-point image.

Abstract: A processing device includes a processing circuit configurable according to a type of an endoscope, and a control circuit configured to detect a connection state of the endoscope, and measure a disconnection time from disconnection to reconnection. The control circuit is also configured to determine that currently and previously connected endoscopes are of the same type when the disconnection time is shorter than a predetermined time, reconfigure the processing circuit according to the type of the endoscope when it is determined that the currently and previously connected endoscopes are not of the same type, and not reconfigure the processing circuit when it is determined that the currently and previously connected endoscopes are of the same type.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope having an image sensor configured to image an inside of a subject; a processor configured to perform predetermined image processing on a video signal that is imaged by the image sensor; a storage that is provided in the endoscope, the storage being configured to store compressed data obtained by compressing data volume of first non-compressed data that is used for correction of an image imaged by the image sensor; a restoring circuit configured to read the compressed data from the storage to restore the compressed data to the first non-compressed data when data is transferred from the endoscope to the processor; and an image correcting circuit that is provided in the endoscope, the image correcting circuit being configured to correct the image imaged by the image sensor by using the first non-compressed data restored by the restoring circuit.

Abstract: An image processing device is configured to obtain first-type image data and second-type image data generated as a result of taking images of same photographic subject from different directions, and generate a parallax image based on the first-type image data and the second-type image data. The image processing device includes a processor comprising hardware. The processor is configured to: set an image selection mode in which an image is selectable based on an image displayed in a display; superimpose a frame data onto image data to be displayed in the display when the image selection mode is set, the frame data representing a boundary area whose size is set based on an optical system that forms an image of the photographic subject; and obtain the first-type image data and the second-type image data corresponding to selected image when the image selection mode is set.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope having an image sensor configured to image an inside of a subject; a processor configured to perform predetermined image processing on a video signal that is imaged by the image sensor; a storage that is provided in the endoscope, the storage being configured to store compressed data obtained by compressing data volume of first non-compressed data that is used for correction of an image imaged by the image sensor; a restoring circuit configured to read the compressed data from the storage to restore the compressed data to the first non-compressed data when data is transferred from the endoscope to the processor; and an image correcting circuit that is provided in the endoscope, the image correcting circuit being configured to correct the image imaged by the image sensor by using the first non-compressed data restored by the restoring circuit.

Abstract: A processing device includes a processing circuit configurable according to a type of an endoscope, and a control circuit configured to detect a connection state of the endoscope, and measure a disconnection time from disconnection to reconnection. The control circuit is also configured to determine that currently and previously connected endoscopes are of the same type when the disconnection time is shorter than a predetermined time, reconfigure the processing circuit according to the type of the endoscope when it is determined that the currently and previously connected endoscopes are not of the same type, and not reconfigure the processing circuit when it is determined that the currently and previously connected endoscopes are of the same type.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes: a light source portion configured to sequentially emit first illumination light and second illumination light; an image pickup portion configured to perform image pickup of return light from an object; an image generating portion configured to generate a first image corresponding to return light of the first illumination light and a second image corresponding to return light of the second illumination light, each of which corresponds to one field, and sequentially output the first image and the second image; a synchronization processing portion configured to simultaneously output images corresponding to a plurality of fields, selectively assigning the images to three channels of a display apparatus; and a control portion configured to set image assignment to and image update frequency for the three channels based on an evaluation value acquired from the images generated by the image generating portion.

Abstract: An image pickup system including an optical system configured to generate a first optical image and a second optical image having disparity, of an object, includes a storage unit configured to store in advance image formation position information and disparity information of the first optical image and the second optical image, and an image processing unit configured to generate a first image signal and a second image signal for display by respectively cutting out a first region corresponding to the first optical image and a second region corresponding to the second optical image, and the image processing unit includes a luminance value comparing unit configured to compare luminance values of respective pixels in the first image signal and the second image signal, and a detecting unit configured to detect a pixel defect based on the comparison result of the luminance value comparing unit.

Abstract: An endoscope system including: a light source that generates illuminating light; a controller that receives a light control signal and controls the illuminating light; a light receiving unit having pixels in a matrix; a reading unit that sequentially reads an electrical signal for each line; and an imaging controller that repeats read processing to sequentially read, for each line, the electrical signal from the light receiving unit, and exposure processing for exposing the light receiving unit. Where a blanking period is a time from completion of reading of a last line for a preceding frame to start of reading of a first line for a following frame and a read period is a time from a start of reading of a first line for a frame to completion of reading of a last line of the frame such that the blanking period can be changed without changing the read period.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a signal processing apparatus that performs processing on an output signal outputted from an endoscope; a detecting section configured to detect a type of the endoscope; a function setting section configured to set a plurality of functions in the endoscope system; an input section configured to input data to the function setting section; an output section configured to output a list of setting states of the plurality of functions to a display section; and a storing section configured to store recommended setting data corresponding to the plurality of functions, wherein the function setting section sets the signal processing apparatus to selected one of the setting corresponding to the type of the endoscope and a setting recommended by the recommended setting data, according to an input from the input section, and sets the plurality of functions according to the type of the endoscope.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes: a light source portion configured to sequentially emit first illumination light and second illumination light; an image pickup portion configured to perform image pickup of return light from an object; an image generating portion configured to generate a first image corresponding to return light of the first illumination light and a second image corresponding to return light of the second illumination light, each of which corresponds to one field, and sequentially output the first image and the second image; a synchronization processing portion configured to simultaneously output images corresponding to a plurality of fields, selectively assigning the images to three channels of a display apparatus; and a control portion configured to set image assignment to and image update frequency for the three channels based on an evaluation value acquired from the images generated by the image generating portion.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate a plurality of pieces of image data having information corresponding to different types of color components at same pixel positions, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the imaging unit, a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components in accordance with the operation mode, a thinning processor that performs thinning processing relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components generated by the imaging unit in accordance with the thinning rate, and a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of pieces of image data of different types of color components subjected to the thinning processing.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a signal processing apparatus that performs processing on an output signal outputted from an endoscope; a detecting section configured to detect a type of the endoscope; a function setting section configured to set a plurality of functions in the endoscope system; an input section configured to input data to the function setting section; an output section configured to output a list of setting states of the plurality of functions to a display section; and a storing section configured to store recommended setting data corresponding to the plurality of functions, wherein the function setting section sets the signal processing apparatus to selected one of the setting corresponding to the type of the endoscope and a setting recommended by the recommended setting data, according to an input from the input section, and sets the plurality of functions according to the type of the endoscope.

Abstract: An image pickup system including an optical system configured to generate a first optical image and a second optical image having disparity, of an object, includes a storage unit configured to store in advance image formation position information and disparity information of the first optical image and the second optical image, and an image processing unit configured to generate a first image signal and a second image signal for display by respectively cutting out a first region corresponding to the first optical image and a second region corresponding to the second optical image, and the image processing unit includes a luminance value comparing unit configured to compare luminance values of respective pixels in the first image signal and the second image signal, and a detecting unit configured to detect a pixel defect based on the comparison result of the luminance value comparing unit.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a light source that generates illuminating light to be emitted from a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; an illumination controller that receives a light control signal and to control emission of the illuminating light according to the light control signal; a light receiving unit in which pixels is provided in a matrix form, each pixel being configured to perform photoelectric conversion on light from the subject irradiated with the illuminating light to generate an electrical signal; a reading unit that sequentially reads, for each line, the electrical signal; and an imaging controller that performs imaging control that alternately repeats read processing for causing the reading unit to sequentially read, for each line, the electrical signal from the light receiving unit, and exposure processing for exposing the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate a plurality of pieces of image data having information corresponding to different types of color components at same pixel positions, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the imaging unit, a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components in accordance with the operation mode, a thinning processor that performs thinning processing relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components generated by the imaging unit in accordance with the thinning rate, and a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of pieces of image data of different types of color components subjected to the thinning processing.

Abstract: An endoscope light source apparatus includes a turret provided with a first optical filter and a second optical filter for transmitting an illuminating light, an instruction section in which an operation instruction of the turret is inputted, a drive section that drives the turret, a first detector that detects a position of the turret, a first detected portion for identifying a position of the first optical filter, a second detected portion for identifying a position of the second optical filter, a second detector that optically detects a position of the first or the second detected portion, and a turret control section that outputs a drive signal to the drive section to move the turret until the first or the second detected portion is detected by the second detector and stop the turret in response to the first or the second detected portion being detected.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus having an image pickup system operating as follows. Before picking up a still image in a body cavity that almost no light can reach, the system extinguishes LED and resets charges accumulated in respective pixels in a CMOS image sensor. In this reset state, the system illuminates LED and allows the CMOS image sensor to pick up a still image. While the charges are being read from the pixels, the system extinguishes LED and prevents further charges from being accumulated in the pixels from which the charges have not been read yet.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a diaphragm blade for adjusting light quantity of illumination light supplied from the light source, a diaphragm driving part for driving the diaphragm blade to perform opening/closing operation, and a diaphragm control circuit part for setting diaphragm drive instruction voltage to be supplied to the diaphragm driving part and control an opening/closing amount of the diaphragm blade. In the diaphragm control circuit part, a fully-opened voltage and a fully-closed voltage at the time the diaphragm blade is fixed at a fully-opened position and a fully-closed position are read, based on the voltages, adjustment data for adjusting the diaphragm drive instruction voltage and the opening/closing positions of the diaphragm blade is set, and based on the adjustment data, a control range of the diaphragm drive instruction voltage is regulated.