Electronic-endoscope light quantity controlling apparatus
US6234959A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0669
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is an electronic-endoscope light quantity controlling apparatus that can reduce costs by simplifying a configuration for setting a shielding period in executing an all-pixel reading system. This apparatus uses diaphragm controlling circuit to control a diaphragm so as to maintain the brightness of an image at a predetermined value. It completely closes the diaphragm to set the shielding period and uses this period to form a still image based on the all-pixel reading method. For a moving image, it forms an image signal using a pixel mix reading system at the output of an image pickup device. That is, for a still image, during the shielding period set by the diaphragm, odd-line signals are read out from all pixels obtained by a CCD during a single exposure within a 1/60-second period, and during the next period, even-line signals are read out from these pixels. Subsequently, a mixing circuit pixel-mixes these line signals into a field signal to form a high-quality still image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.