Patent · US Expired

Image processing apparatus for performing turn or mirror inversion on an input video signal and outputting different images simultaneously

US6636254B1 · kind B1 · utility

121Cited by
7References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1996
Grant dateOct 21, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 10, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T3/60
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Using an endoscope system, a surgeon A holds an endoscope with a TV camera (hereinafter, an endoscope) and a therapeutic appliance such as forceps and carries out a surgical procedure while viewing a first monitor. A surgeon B holds a therapeutic appliance such as forceps and carries out the surgical procedure while viewing a second monitor. A video signal sent from the TV camera of the endoscope is fed to and processed by an image processing apparatus, and displayed on each of the first and second monitors. The image processing apparatus transfers the video signal sent from the endoscope to each of an image inverting circuit and a selector switch. The image inverting circuit inverts an image (laterally (to produce a mirror image), vertically, or vertically and laterally (180°)), and supplies a processed video signal to the selector switch. The selector switch selects a video signal to be supplied to each of the first and second monitors, which are display units, in response to a control signal sent from a selector. The contents of processing to be performed by the image inverting circuit and the video signal to be selected by the selector are designated using setting switches …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.