Camera scope electronic variable prism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12082772-B2
Application number	US-202217656830-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2022
Priority date	Jul 6, 2018
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A system, apparatus and methods for providing a scope having an imaging sensor which provides a two thousand pixel by two thousand pixel array of pixels. The imaging sensor allows for an angle of view to be changed within a field of view by selecting a one thousand pixel by one thousand pixel array within the two thousand pixel by two thousand pixel array of pixels containing imaging data that corresponds to a desired angle of view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining a selected field of view for visualizing a scene;
identifying a subarray of pixels of an image sensor corresponding with the selected field of view, wherein the subarray of pixels comprises fewer than all pixels in a pixel array of the image sensor; and
causing the image sensor to read out only the subarray of pixels to generate a frame approximating the selected field of view;
wherein the subarray of pixels comprises a reference pixel and a plurality of pixels organized into a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the selected field of view comprises receiving an indication that an interface element has been actuated to select the selected field of view.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is a 4K image sensor, and wherein identifying the subarray of pixels comprises identifying a one-thousand-pixel by one-thousand-pixel sub-portion of the pixel array that digitally approximates the selected field of view.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein light is refracted through a 50° prism prior to being sensed by the image sensor, and wherein the selected field of view digitally approximates visualization with one of a 30° prism, a 50° prism, or a 70° prism.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is disposed at a distal end of a lumen of an endoscope, and wherein the endoscope further comprises a 50° prism, and wherein the selected field of view digitally approximates visualization through a prism configured to diffract light at an angle from 0° to 90°.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subarray of pixels comprises a plurality of pixels, and wherein the image sensor reads out only the plurality of pixels in the subarray of pixels in response to receiving an indication from a user to visualize the scene with the selected field of view.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented by an endoscopic visualization system, and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a new selected field of view;
identifying a new subarray of pixels of the image sensor that corresponds with the new selected field of view; and
causing the image sensor to read out only the new subarray of pixels to generate a frame that digitally approximates the new selected field of view.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the endoscopic visualization system comprises an interface element for selecting a field of view during a visualization session, and wherein the method further comprises identifying which pixels in the pixel array to read out in real-time based on input received from a user by way of the interface element.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by an endoscopic visualization system comprising:
a scope comprising a prism;
a handpiece unit;
the image sensor; and
an interface element disposed on the handpiece unit, wherein the interface element is actuated by a user to select the selected field of view.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the prism is a 50° prism, and wherein the interface element comprises means for selecting one or more of a 30° field of view, a 50° field of view, or a 70° field of view.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected field of view is the 50° field of view, and wherein the subarray of pixels comprises a sub-array center point that is equivalent to a center point of the pixel array of the image sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected field of view is the 30° field of view, and wherein the subarray of pixels comprises a sub-array center point that is different from a center point of the pixel array of the image sensor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the frame approximating the selected field of view comprises data for visualizing the scene as if the prism is a 30° prism rather than the 50° prism.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected field of view is the 70° field of view, and wherein the subarray of pixels comprises a sub-array center point that is different from a center point of the pixel array of the image sensor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the frame approximating the selected field of view comprises data for visualizing the scene as if the prism is a 70° prism rather than the 50° prism.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the field of view is an angle of view for visualizing the scene with an endoscopic visualization system, and wherein the available fields of view comprise a 30° field of view, a 50° field of view, and a 70° field of view.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the subarray of pixels comprises identifying a subset of the pixel array based on a signal sent by actuation of an interface element, and wherein:
the subarray of pixels comprises a length and a width that are smaller than a length and a width of all pixels within the pixel array;
all pixels within the pixel array are exposed to electromagnetic radiation for generating an image frame; and
only the subarray of pixels is read out by the image sensor to generate the frame approximating the selected field of view.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a new signal sent by actuation of the interface element, wherein the new signal comprises an updated selected field of view for visualizing the scene; and
identifying an updated subarray of pixels of the image sensor that correspond with the updated selected field of view, wherein the updated subarray of pixels comprises fewer than all pixels in the pixel array of the image sensor;
wherein the updated subarray of pixels comprises a length and a width that are smaller than a length and a width of all pixels within the pixel array.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the subarray of pixels comprises a center point corresponding to the reference pixel and a plurality of pixels;
the updated subarray of pixels comprises an updated center point and an updated plurality of pixels;
the center point of the subarray of pixels is different from the updated center point of the updated subarray of pixels; and
at least a portion of the plurality of pixels of the subarray of pixels are different from the updated plurality of pixels of the updated subarray of pixels.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
only the plurality of pixels of the subarray of pixels are read out to generate the frame approximating the selected field of view; and
only the updated plurality of pixels of the updated subarray of pixels are read out to generate an updated frame approximating the updated selected field of view.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference pixel is a pixel within the subarray of pixels, and wherein the reference pixel is a pixel selected from the group of:
a center pixel of the image sensor,
a center pixel of a vertical edge of the subarray of pixels, or
a center pixel of a horizontal edge of the subarray of pixels.

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl

Inventors

• Blanquart Laurent
• Shainwald Mark

Classifications

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• H04N23/69

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• G02B5/04

  Prisms · CPC title