Color-image sensing apparatus
US4791479A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1987 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/555
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic endoscope comprising an endoscope unit and a light source unit. The endoscope includes a light guide and a CCD for imaging the object. The light source unit includes a continuously lighting lamp (e.g., xenon lamp), for use as a light source for observation, and a flashing stroboscope as a light source for still-picture recording. An illumination light from the lamp or the stroboscope is applied alternatively to a light guide. A rotary filter is located in front of the light guide. Every time it makes one revolution, the filter colors the illumination light red, green, and blue, in succession, with shielding periods between coloring periods. The CCD is stored with signal charge corresponding to image information during a coloring period, and outputs an output signal during a shielding period thereafter. The output of the CCD is supplied to the light source unit, and is transmitted through a multiplexer to be stored in any of frame memories. The multiplexer is switched with every imaging of one color-component image by the CCD, and image signals for red, green, and blue color components are stored individually in the frame memories. Output signals for the three color co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.