Imaging device, endoscope, endoscope system, and method for driving imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016119528-A1
Application number	US-201614989094-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Aug 21, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging device includes: an image sensor including pixels and configured to receive light from outside, and generate and output an imaging signal according to an amount of the received light; a transmission cable connected to the image sensor and configured to propagate the imaging signal; a terminating resistor provided at a terminal of the transmission cable, the terminal resistor including an alternating current terminating resistor with variable resistance and a direct current terminating resistor with variable resistance, and having a constant combined resistance of the direct current terminating resistor and the alternating current terminating resistor; and a control unit configured to perform control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during a blanking period in which the image sensor does not output the imaging signal higher than that during a normal operation period in which the image sensor outputs the imaging signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An imaging device comprising:
an image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and configured to receive light from outside, and generate and output an imaging signal according to an amount of the received light; a transmission cable connected to the image sensor and configured to propagate the imaging signal; a terminating resistor provided at a terminal of the transmission cable, the terminal resistor including an alternating current terminating resistor with variable resistance and a direct current terminating resistor with variable resistance, and having a constant combined resistance of the direct current terminating resistor and the alternating current terminating resistor; and a control unit configured to perform control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during a blanking period in which the image sensor does not output the imaging signal higher than that during a normal operation period in which the image sensor outputs the imaging signal.

2 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein when an instruction signal indicating amplitude of the imaging signal is input from an external device, the control unit performs control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor higher than the resistance during the normal operation period.

3 . The imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit performs control to make the resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during the blanking period higher than the resistance of the direct current terminating resistor when the instruction signal is input.

4 . An endoscope comprising an imaging device comprising:
an image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and configured to receive light from outside, and generate and output an imaging signal according to an amount of the received light; a transmission cable connected to the image sensor and configured to propagate the imaging signal; a terminating resistor provided at a terminal of the transmission cable, the terminal resistor including an alternating current terminating resistor with variable resistance and a direct current terminating resistor with variable resistance, and having a constant combined resistance of the direct current terminating resistor and the alternating current terminating resistor; and a control unit configured to perform control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during a blanking period in which the image sensor does not output the imaging signal higher than that during a normal operation period in which the image sensor outputs the imaging signal.

5 . An endoscope system comprising:
an endoscope comprising:
an image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and configured to receive light from outside, and generate and output an imaging signal according to an amount of the received light;
a transmission cable connected to the image sensor and configured to propagate the imaging signal;
a terminating resistor provided at a terminal of the transmission cable, the terminal resistor including an alternating current terminating resistor with variable resistance and a direct current terminating resistor with variable resistance, and having a constant combined resistance of the direct current terminating resistor and the alternating current terminating resistor; and
a control unit configured to perform control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during a blanking period in which the image sensor does not output the imaging signal higher than that during a normal operation period in which the image sensor outputs the imaging signal; and
a processing device configured to convert the imaging signal to an image signal.

6 . A method for driving an imaging device including:
an image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and configured to receive light from outside, and generate and output an imaging signal according to an amount of the received light; a transmission cable connected to the image sensor and configured to propagate the imaging signal; and a terminating resistor provided with an alternating current terminating resistor with variable resistance and a direct current terminating resistor with variable resistance in parallel at a terminal of the transmission cable, and having a constant combined resistance of the direct current terminating resistor and the alternating current terminating resistor, the method comprising: performing control to make a resistance of the direct current terminating resistor during a blanking period in which the image sensor does not output the imaging signal higher than that during a normal operation period in which the image sensor outputs the imaging signal.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• Adachi Satoru

Classifications

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/555

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

• H04N23/651 Primary

  for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera · CPC title

• H04N7/183 Primary

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• A61B1/00009

  of image signals during a use of endoscope · CPC title