Illumination Patents (Class 348/68)
  • Patent number: 10631721
    Abstract: A living body observation system has a light source apparatus configured to generate white observation light and excitation light for exciting fluorescent medical agent, a camera unit configured to pick up an image of a subject, a switch capable of giving an instruction to switch an observation mode, and a processor. The processor generates a white observation image and a fluorescent image; judges whether or not a parameter acquired based on the fluorescent image meets a condition under which observation of fluorescence is possible, switches to a fluorescence observation mode if the condition under which observation of the fluorescence is possible is met, when an instruction is given in a normal observation mode, and switches to a predetermined observation mode different from the fluorescence observation mode if the condition under which observation of the fluorescence is possible is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Kubo
  • Patent number: 10602919
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a first substrate including a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels, a second substrate including a plurality of third pixels and facing the first substrate, and a processing unit. The plurality of third pixels receive light transmitted through the plurality of first pixels. The plurality of first pixels output signals corresponding to a wavelength bandwidth including wavelengths of green light and transmit a wavelength bandwidth including wavelengths of red light. The plurality of second pixels output signals corresponding to a wavelength bandwidth including wavelengths of blue light and not including wavelengths of red light and wavelengths of green light. The plurality of third pixels output signals corresponding to a wavelength bandwidth including wavelengths of red light. The processing unit generates a signal at least from an output of the plurality of first pixels and an output of the plurality of third pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 10602087
    Abstract: An image acquisition system 1 includes: a light source 3 which outputs illumination light; an optical scanner 7 which scans a sample S with the illumination light; an optical scanner control unit 9; a detection optical system 15, 17 which focuses fluorescence from the sample S; an imaging device 19 which has a light receiving surface 19c in which a plurality of pixel rows 19d are arranged, and an imaging control section 19b, and which can perform signal readout of each of the plurality of pixel rows 19d from the light receiving surface 19c; and a calculation unit 21 which calculates an interval of signal readout between adjacent pixel rows 19d, based on a moving speed of an illuminated region on the light receiving surface 19c; the imaging control section 19b controls signal readout of each pixel row 19d, based on the interval of the signal readout thus calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K
    Inventors: Eiji Toda, Takuo Kameyama
  • Patent number: 10575712
    Abstract: A medical camera system includes a video medical scope defining an enclosed space within a distal portion and a proximal portion that a user can attach and detach to each other. The two portions both have an interface for coupling to each other allowing radio frequency communications across a patient isolation barrier having improvements to avoid interfering with surrounding equipment. Power transfer elements provide for power transfer across the patient isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc R. Amling, Helga Schemm, George E. Duckett, III, Eric Hale
  • Patent number: 10575720
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a light source device for sequentially emitting illumination light of three colors; an image sensor having pixels to perform photoelectric conversion on light from an object irradiated with the illumination light and output image signals; an illumination controller for causing the light source device to emit the illumination light of two colors during a one-line exposure period of the image sensor; and a calculation unit for calculating each color component signal for each horizontal line, based on a relational expression using an output value of a horizontal line, among output values of the image signals in a latest frame, a frame located one frame before the latest frame, and a frame located two frames before the latest frame, using each illumination period per one-line exposure period of each color in each frame, and using each exposure period of each color with respect to the horizontal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryohei Kagawa
  • Patent number: 10568492
    Abstract: [Object] To control the focal position of an optical system with a more favorable aspect, in accordance with the band targeted for observation. [Solution] A medical observation device includes: a computation section that applies, to an imaging signal corresponding to each of a plurality of different spectral components based on a light receiving result regarding observation target light from a subject in vivo from an image sensor, weights of the plurality of spectral components corresponding to a band targeted for observation from among bands in the observation target light, and computes an evaluation value indicating a degree of being in-focus on a basis of the imaging signal to which the weights are applied; and a control section that controls, on a basis of the evaluation value, a position of at least one optical member in an optical system that forms an image of the observation target light from the subject onto the image sensor, and thereby controls a focal position of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Toshio Katayama, Hirotaka Hirano, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10565741
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for correcting a makeup or skin effect to be rendered on a surface region of an image of a portion of a body of a person. The method and system correcting the makeup or skin effect by accounting for image-specific light field parameters, such as a light profile estimate and minimum light field estimation, and rendering the corrected the makeup or skin effect on the image to generate a corrected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventor: Parham Aarabi
  • Patent number: 10561350
    Abstract: Provided is an endoscope system capable of improving luminance and an S/N ratio of a normal observation image that is obtained in a special observation mode. In a special observation mode, after first illumination light is radiated, some of a plurality of pixel rows of an imaging element are reset en bloc. Illumination light is switched to second illumination light, the second illumination light is radiated, and then, a turned-off state is reached. During this turn-off period, signal reading is sequentially performed from all pixel rows. An image processing unit generates a normal observation image on the basis of a first imaging signal without being subjected to resetting. Further, the image processing unit generates an oxygen saturation image on the basis of a second imaging signal read from the pixel row subjected to the resetting and exposed by only the second illumination light, and the first imaging signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Koshiba
  • Patent number: 10555660
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a narrowband image acquisition unit configured to acquire a narrowband image showing inside of a lumen; a white light image acquisition unit configured to acquire a white light image showing the inside of the lumen; and a composite image generation unit configured to combine information of the narrowband image to the white light image, according to a depth of a submucosal object, to generate a composite image for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hirota, Tetsuo Nonami, Yamato Kanda
  • Patent number: 10524645
    Abstract: In a multiple viewing elements endoscope, fuzziness and blur in the images due to movement of the endoscope is reduced by using flashing illuminators instead of continuous illumination. In one embodiment, LED illuminators are flashed at high intensity and for a very short duration. To address interlacing artifacts, LEDs are flashed once at the end of a field and again at the beginning of the following field to minimize the time difference between the capture of the two fields. In another embodiment, the LEDs are flashed once wherein the single flash overlaps the end of a field and the beginning of the following field. In some embodiments, still images may be captured with fine detail by pressing a button on the endoscope handle which activates the LEDs to flash along with the capture of an image. In one embodiment, pressing a button for still image capture results in the capture of two fields, each accompanied by a flash, which are interlaced to form a single still image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: EndoChoice, Inc.
    Inventor: Tal Davidson
  • Patent number: 10516836
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a light splitting unit which splits first light from a subject into second light and third light, first and second imaging units, and an arithmetic unit. The first light includes the second light having infrared light and at least one of green light and blue light, and the third light having red light or the green light. The first imaging unit includes a first and a second light reception regions. The first light reception region generates at least one of the group consisting of a B signal according to the blue light and a G signal according to the green light. The second light reception region generates an IR signal according to the infrared light. The arithmetic unit generates a visible light image signal from the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal and generates an infrared light image signal from the IR signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10430977
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for correcting a makeup or skin effect to be rendered on a surface region of an image of a portion of a body of a person. The method and system correcting the makeup or skin effect by accounting for image-specific light field parameters, such as a light profile estimate and minimum light field estimation, and rendering the corrected the makeup or skin effect on the image to generate a corrected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MODIFACE INC.
    Inventor: Parham Aarabi
  • Patent number: 10397496
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. Each pixel of the image sensor includes first and second accumulators and a discharger. The controller, while a component of light from the light source reflected by the surface of a target is incident on the image sensor, causes the accumulators to accumulate signal charge not discharged to the discharger, by setting the image sensor so that signal charge is discharged to the discharger, while a component having scattered inside the target is incident on the image sensor, causes the first accumulator to accumulate signal charge by setting the image sensor so that signal charge is not discharged to the discharger and signal charge is accumulated in the first accumulator, and causes the image sensor to generate first and second signals that are respectively based on signal charge accumulated in the first and second accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakamura, Toshiya Fujii, Masaaki Yanagida, Takamasa Ando
  • Patent number: 10356287
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes an optical fiber that emits illumination light from a distal end thereof toward a subject, an actuator that oscillates the distal end of the optical fiber, and a controller that controls the actuator so as to two-dimensionally scan the illumination light on the subject and so as to satisfy Conditional Expression of P1?0.5×D, where D is a spot diameter of the illumination light on the subject, and P1 is a scanning-line pitch of the illumination light on the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuyoshi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 10345571
    Abstract: An intelligent endoscopic light source system for controlling the intensity of a light source, including a light source emitting light at a first intensity, an attenuator positioned to receive light from the light source at a first intensity and movable to pass light from the light source at a second intensity, a sensor mounted to the attenuator for measuring the first intensity, and a controller for receiving the intensity measurement from the sensor and moving the attenuator to pass light at a desired second intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Karl Storz Endovision, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon Hopkins, Eric Webb
  • Patent number: 10299658
    Abstract: An image processing method includes: sequentially generating fluorescent image data in accordance with light intensity of a wavelength component emitted from a fluorescent agent having been administered to a subject irradiated with excitation light, based on image data of the subject each time the image data is generated; sequentially calculating a change amount of the light intensity based on two sets of temporally successive fluorescent image data each time the fluorescent image data is generated; determining whether the change amount is not less than a first threshold indicating fluorescence expression; determining whether the change amount is less than a second threshold indicating a steady state of fluorescence after the change amount is determined to be not less than the first threshold; and outputting a message that fluorescence of the fluorescent agent is in the steady state if the change amount is determined to be less than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 10299665
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging sensor; a color filter including first band filters and a second band filter configured to transmit narrowband light having a maximum value of a transmission spectrum outside a range of the wavelength band of the light that passes through each first band filter; a first light source unit; a second light source unit configured to radiate light having an upward projecting distribution of a wavelength spectrum in relation to intensity and having a narrowband light spectrum narrower than the broadband; and a control unit configured to cause the first light source unit and the second light source unit to radiate the beams of light simultaneously, wherein a peak wavelength of the light radiated by the second light source unit is an infrared region or a near-infrared region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Yoshizaki, Ken Ioka, Sunao Kikuchi, Yasuhiro Komiya, Yasuhiro Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 10245052
    Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and related methods of use are disclosed. The systems may comprise a sheath for insertion into a body lumen and an extraction tool for passage through the sheath, wherein the extraction tool may include a handle, an end effector, and an optical device. Methods disclosed herein include introducing an extraction tool into a urethra for retrieving and removing tissue from the body, e.g., with an end effector, without morcellating the excised tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ciulla, Kenneth J. Daignault
  • Patent number: 10231658
    Abstract: Information for assisting a doctor based on the oxygen saturation of an observation target is presented. An endoscope system includes a light source device, an image sensor, an oxygen saturation calculation unit, a distribution pattern generation unit, a disease state score calculation unit, and a monitor. The light source device emits light to irradiate the observation target. The image sensor images the observation target with reflected light of the light, and outputs an image signal. The oxygen saturation calculation unit calculates an oxygen saturation of the observation target based on the image signal. The distribution pattern generation unit generates a distribution pattern showing the distribution of the oxygen saturation. The disease state score calculation unit calculates a disease state score indicating the disease state of the observation target based on the distribution pattern. The monitor displays the disease state score or information based on the disease state score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10225446
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes an optical sensor configured to pick up an optical image of an object illuminated with light of a plurality of colors emitted from a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements with an image pickup device and detect each of light amounts of the light emitted from the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements, and a controller including hardware. The controller adjusts color balance based on the light amounts of the plurality of colors detected at the optical sensor and sets an exposure timing of a light amount detecting unit according to image pickup operation of the image pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aiko Sakai, Yusuke Yabe, Tomoya Takahashi, Satoshi Tanaka, Kotaro Ogasawara, Susumu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10213097
    Abstract: An endoscope has an imaging unit at a distal end portion of an insert section, and a relay board including an imaging signal converter that converts imaging signals output from the imaging unit is provided inside the insert section. Here, a data transmission method of an imaging signal transmitted at least in a section from the imaging unit to the relay board is a low-amplitude differential transmission method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kohno, Yuichi Hatase
  • Patent number: 10216167
    Abstract: A system for positional monitoring of a slat flap lever control assembly including multiple radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags operatively coupled to a movable portion of the control assembly, the movable portion operatively coupled to a lever. Also included is a RFID reader operatively coupled to a stationary portion of the control assembly and in operative communication with the RFID tags. Further included is a processor operatively connected to the RFID reader. The processor is configured to transmit a carrier signal via the RFID reader to the RFID tags. The processor is also configured to receive, via the RFID reader, reflected signals from the RFID tags, each of the reflected signals comprising a different carrier frequency. The processor is further configured to determine, based on the reflected signal from the RFID tags, an angular position of the movable portion of the lever assembly relative to the stationary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darrell E. Ankney
  • Patent number: 10200637
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a first light source which, in operation, emits first pulsed light to project a first image of a first pattern at a first position in a predetermined region of a subject, and emits second pulsed light to project a second image of a second pattern at a second position, different from the first position, in the predetermined region of the subject; an image sensor including multiple pixels each including a photodetector that, in operation, converts received light into a signal charge, and a first accumulator and a second accumulator each of which, in operation, accumulates the signal charge; and a control circuit which, in operation, controls the first light source and the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiya Fujii, Takamasa Ando, Tatsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10194789
    Abstract: A wide dimming dynamic range and high dimming resolution are obtained without causing a variation in the amount of received light due to pulse illumination light in each line of an imaging element. An imaging device includes a light source emitting light by pulse driving, a light source control unit controlling the amount of emitted light by performing pulse modulation driving of the light source, and an imaging unit including an imaging element, in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a horizontal and vertical direction, and performs imaging by driving the imaging element using a rolling shutter method. The light source control unit performs pulse driving of the light source at a timing synchronized with a timing pulse signal having, as a period, 1/p (p is an integer of 1 or more) of the exposure start timing interval when driving the imaging element using the rolling shutter method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Seto
  • Patent number: 10197785
    Abstract: An inspection device for image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device inside a first lens barrel; an angle-of-view conversion optical member made of a translucent resin member and including a first surface and a second surface that is an opposite surface of the first surface, the first surface being configured to closely contact a surface of a distal end lens, the surface of the distal end lens being exposed outside of the first lens barrel; a test chart including a chart surface provided so as to closely contact the second surface, and an image of the chart surface being picked up by the image pickup apparatus through the angle-of-view conversion optical member, and an illumination instrument that illuminates the chart surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagamizu, Kenji Omachi, Kazuyoshi Jingu
  • Patent number: 10182706
    Abstract: An insertion device includes an insertion section extended along a longitudinal axis, and an assist tool detachably attached to the insertion section. The assist tool is actuated with being attached to the insertion section, thereby causing a propulsion force for movement along the longitudinal axis to act on the insertion section. A moving member movable between a first position and a second position is provided in one of the insertion section and the assist tool. The moving member is held at the second position due to a pressure from the other of the insertion section and the assist tool, in a state that the assist tool is located at the specific position relative to the insertion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Sato
  • Patent number: 10165183
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices that employ a plurality of image sensors to capture a target image of a scene. As described, positioning at least one reflective or refractive surface near the plurality of image sensors enables the sensors to capture together an image of wider field of view and longer focal length than any sensor could capture individually by using the reflective or refractive surface to guide a portion of the image scene to each sensor. The different portions of the scene captured by the sensors may overlap, and may be aligned and cropped to generate the target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Todor Georgiev Georgiev, Thomas Wesley Osborne, Sergiu Radu Goma
  • Patent number: 10151914
    Abstract: An optical scanning observation apparatus includes: a light source selectively emitting a plurality of illumination lights of different colors; a light emission timing controller controlling light emission timing, based on a predetermined ratio of number of light emissions of each color of the illumination light emitted from the light source; a fiber guiding the illumination light from the light source; an actuator vibratory driving the tip part of the fiber; an optical system for irradiating the illumination light emitted from the fiber; an optical detector; and a signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Mori, Ken Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 10151913
    Abstract: An endoscopic distance measurement method, which causes a single wavelength light source in an observation unit at a front end of a flexible tube of an endoscope to emit a predetermined wavelength light to an object to be measured via a diffraction grating so as to form a zero-order bright spot, a positive first-order bright spot and a negative first-order bright spot on the surface of the object through optical diffraction, and then capture an image from the object, and then calculate a distance magnification using a first arithmetic logic, and then to calculate the actual distance between two adjacent bright spots of the predetermined wavelength light being projected on the object using a second arithmetic logic and then to calculate the distance between the diffraction grating and the zero-order bright spot using a third arithmetic logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MEDICAL INTUBATION TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Chun Chan
  • Patent number: 10078210
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a main unit, light source modules attachable to and detachable from the main unit, and storage mediums storing characteristic information of the light source modules. Each light source module includes at least one light source and a light connection part to be optically connected to the main unit. The main unit includes entrance parts to be optically connected to the light connection parts of the connected light source modules, a light combining unit to combine light entering the entrance parts, at least one exit part to cause light combined by the light combining unit to exit, and an exit light characteristic deriving unit to derive characteristic information of achievable exit light based on characteristic information of the light source modules stored in the storage mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoki Tabata, Masahiro Nishio, Satoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 10048206
    Abstract: A fluorescence viewing device is configured to take a difference between one of an image of a first frame and an image of a second frame output from an imaging device and the other of the first frame image and the second frame image stored in an image storage means, whereby clear observed images can be obtained without influence of background light. In the fluorescence viewing device, an exposure time of a fluorescence image acquisition period and an exposure time of a background image acquisition period are different from each other. Since ON/OFF durations of excitation light also become asymmetric according to the asymmetry of the exposure times, the device can reduce user's feeling of strangeness due to blinking of the excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Hirawake, Mitsuharu Miwa
  • Patent number: 10039438
    Abstract: A medical camera system includes a video medical scope defining an enclosed space within a distal portion and a proximal portion that a user can attach and detach to each other. The two portions both have an interface for coupling to each other allowing communications across a patient isolation barrier. Power transfer elements provide for power transfer across the patient isolation barrier. The communication and power transfer may allow rotation of the distal portion with respect to the proximal portion while in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc R. Amling, Helga Schemm, Joseph Sanandajifar, Mark Belding, Chris Zimmer, George E. Duckett, III
  • Patent number: 10038869
    Abstract: An optical electronic device may include a plurality of different optical sources, and a global shutter sensor including an array of global shutter pixels, with each global shutter pixel including a plurality of storage elements. A controller may be coupled to the plurality of optical sources and the global shutter sensor and configured to cause a first optical source to illuminate and a first storage element in each global shutter pixel to store optical data during a first integration period, cause a second optical source to illuminate and a second storage element in each global shutter pixel to store optical data during a second integration period, and output the stored optical data from the first and second storage elements of the global shutter pixels after the first and second integration periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Raynor
  • Patent number: 10004391
    Abstract: An electronic endoscopic device includes a light source, an endoscopic scope including an imaging unit provided at a tip end, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the tip end, and a light source control unit that performs a light emission control and a light emission stop control in a frame period. The imaging unit includes a plurality of pixels and a driving unit, and the electronic endoscopic device further includes a control unit in which, when a temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit exceeds a threshold value, the control unit performs a control such that, in a frame period following a first frame period, a period in which the light emission stop control is performed is set to be longer, and a read-out speed of the imaging signal is set to be slower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishimaru, Mitsuru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9973680
    Abstract: Embodiments of imaging systems and methods of autofocusing are disclosed, for example, using a folded optics configuration. One system includes at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, including an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction, and an optical element having a secondary light folding surface directing light in a second direction. The system can also include a lens assembly having at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Wesley Osborne
  • Patent number: 9832435
    Abstract: An optical scanning image forming apparatus includes: a light source section; an illumination scanning section; a light detection section; a calculation section calculating a drive waveform for providing a illumination light scanning pattern; and an image drawing section drawing an image, based on detection light detected by the light detection section and image construction coordinates, the calculation section providing different light scanning patterns to the illumination scanning section and calculating distortion correction data, based on comparison between data on the detection lights detected when scanned in the different scanning patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9762879
    Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments with luminance and chrominance emitted from a controlled light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Blanquart, John Richardson
  • Patent number: 9727693
    Abstract: A system for tracking a medical procedure includes a set of macros, a scanning device, and a control unit. Each macro in the set of macros is associated with instructions that execute a tracking step of a medical procedure. The scanning device is controlled by a user during the medical procedure to select a macro from the set of macros. The control unit executes the instructions associated with the selected macro to track the medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian F. Warner, Daniel Richard Schneidewend, Linda Marie Helvick, Venkat Krishnan, Angela Orentas
  • Patent number: 9687140
    Abstract: An endoscope, endoscopic system and method for filling a medical display with a medical image involving sizing the medical image so that it covers at least one of the dimensions of the medical display. Automatically sizing the medical image to fit either the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner dimensions of the surgical display, the sizing of the image involving adjusting the image size to account for changing zoom factors, endoscopes and imaging conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc R. Amling
  • Patent number: 9681831
    Abstract: The endoscope system includes: an image signal acquisition unit acquiring first image signal in first wavelength range where the amount of light absorption changes according to the concentration of yellow dye, second image signal in second wavelength range where the amount of light absorption changes according to the blood volume of an observation target, and third image signal in third wavelength range where a change in the amount of light absorption according to the concentration of the yellow dye is smaller than the first wavelength range and a change in the amount of light absorption according to the blood volume is smaller than the second wavelength range; a signal ratio calculation unit calculating first signal ratio based on the first and second image signals and calculating second signal ratio based on the second and third image signals; and a warning notification unit calculating a threshold value and generates warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Saito
  • Patent number: 9654705
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an optical image of a corresponding one of pixels included in a screen, and the image capturing unit of part of the pixels in the screen includes an adjustment unit which contains an electric field responsive material and is configured to adjust a transmittance of light by the electric field responsive material, and a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light for which the transmittance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Qi Song
  • Patent number: 9645935
    Abstract: In an approach for sharing memory bandwidth in one or more processors, a processor receives a first set of monitored usage information for one or more processors executing one or more threads. A processor calculates impact of hardware data prefetching for each thread of the one or more threads, based on the first set of monitored usage information. A processor adjusts prefetch settings for the one or more threads, based on the calculated impact of hardware data prefetching for each thread of the one or more threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pradip Bose, Alper Buyuktosunoglu, Victor Javier Jimenez Perez, Francis P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9622644
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion having an elongated shape, an imaging unit provided at a distal portion of the insertion portion and configured to acquire an image of a specimen, a lighting unit configured to illuminate an observation field of view of the imaging unit, and a pattern projector having a light source configured to emit projection light to project a light and dark pattern on the specimen. The pattern projector generates a region, in which the light and dark pattern is not projected, in at least one end of a direction in which stripes of the light and dark pattern are arranged in an imaging field of view of the imaging unit, in a state in which the light and dark pattern is projected on the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 9509917
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Blanquart, John Richardson
  • Patent number: 9488335
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shielding assembly may include a transparent substrate layer and a transparent active layer positioned with respect to the substrate, wherein the active layer is configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength and emit electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength, the active layer includes fluorescent molecules combined with a base material, the fluorescent molecules being configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength and emit the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is in a visible electromagnetic spectrum and the second wavelength is in a non-visible electromagnetic spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dallas S. Scholes, Eric P. Oman, Jason D. Habedank, David J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9294686
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus generates synchronous detection images under different exposure conditions in such a way that each synchronous detection image is obtained by subtracting the output values of an image captured with no light projected from the output values of an image captured with light projected, selects one or more pixels from the rest of the pixels at each position of the two or more synchronous detection images under the different exposure conditions excluding the pixel having the lowest output value, and generates a synchronous detection image by using the selected pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Matsuno, Hidekazu Nishiuchi, Kouki Mitsuishi, Jun Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9241609
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of signals from a first type of image sensor to a second type of camera control unit is presented. A first interface is provided for enabling electrical communication between the conversion module and an image sensor, the image sensor being interchangeable between a Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor. A second interface is provided for enabling electrical communication between the conversion module and a camera control unit (CCU). Also provided is conversion circuitry in communication with the first interface and the second interface, the conversion circuitry receiving signals of a first type from the first interface, converting the signals of a first type to signals of a second type and providing the signals of a second type to the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Ezra Navok, Shai Finkman, Christopher A. Cook
  • Patent number: 9223133
    Abstract: An image reading lens includes a front lens group of five lenses including a positive lens and a negative lens, disposed on an object side and a rear lens group disposed on an image side, including a negative plastic lens. The image reading lens satisfies the following conditions: 0<?dnN/dt(N)??dnp/dt(P)<25 0.10<fa/f×d11/D<0.90 ?1.5<fb/f<?0.5 0.35<d11/D<0.70 where ?dnN/dt(N) and ?dnp/dt(P) are sums of 106-fold temperature coefficients of refractive indexes of the negative and positive lenses of the front lens group along a He—Ne line at a temperature of 40 to 60° C., respectively, fa, fb, and f are focal lengths of the front lens group, rear lens group, and image reading lens, respectively, d11 is an on-axis distance between the front and rear lens groups, and D is the total length of the image reading lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Nagano
  • Patent number: 9186054
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus according to a present embodiment has a CCD and an LED control section which controls LED1 and LED2. The LED control section sequentially drives the two LEDs, LED1 and LED2, on the basis of an image pickup start timing signal corresponding to each image pickup cycle S for the CCD within the image pickup cycle S such that driving time periods for LED1 and LED2 do not overlap. The LED control section also variably controls the driving time periods for LED1 and LED2 to adjust an amount of exposure within the image pickup cycle S and performs control so as to conduct, within the image pickup cycle S, at least a first drive within the image pickup cycle S of LED2 that is a second or subsequent one to be driven with reference to a timing for driving of LED1 that is driven earlier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Godo, Yoshinori Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9131861
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring patients utilizing reflectance avoidance as well as other imaging modalities. Information regarding perfusion, oxygen saturation and oxygen availability, as well as others may be obtained. System embodiments may include a light source, a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to an examination substrate and transmit light reflected by the examination substrate, and an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body. The light source may be pulsed in order to improve the quality of video images produced by the systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM
    Inventors: Can Ince, Theodorus Antonius Herman Maria Sholten