Endoscope apparatus and shake correction processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9498153-B2
Application number	US-201213440800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2012
Priority date	Apr 7, 2011
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes an imaging section, a selection section, and a shake correction section. The imaging section includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures images. The selection section selects shake correction parameter information from a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information based on the observation state of the imaging section. The shake correction section performs a shake correction process on the captured images based on the shake correction parameter information selected by the selection section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures images; and
a processor that performs operations including:
selecting shake correction parameter information from a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information based on an observation state of the imaging section;
detecting a motion amount of an object between the captured images; and
performing a shake correction process on the captured images based on the detected motion amount;
wherein:
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to the observation state of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus;
the motion amount is detected using a detection method that corresponds to the selected shake correction parameter information;
a plurality of types of the imaging section are removably attachable to the endoscope apparatus;
selecting the shake correction parameter information comprises detecting a type of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus, and selecting the shake correction parameter information from a storage device that stores the plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information that respectively correspond to the plurality of types of the imaging section; and
the processor performs operations further comprising:
performing an edge enhancement process on the captured images,
selecting the shake correction parameter information that corresponds to a first intensity of the edge enhancement process when the imaging element of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus has a first size, and selecting the shake correction parameter information that corresponds to a second intensity of the edge enhancement process when the imaging element has a second size, the second intensity being higher than the first intensity, and the second size being smaller than the first size, and
performing the edge enhancement process at an intensity that corresponds to the selected shake correction parameter information.

2. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures images; and
a processor that performs operations including:
selecting shake correction parameter information from a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information based on an observation state of the imaging section;
detecting a motion amount of an object between the captured images; and
performing a shake correction process on the captured images based on the detected motion amount;
wherein:
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to the observation state of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus;
the motion amount is detected using a detection method that corresponds to the selected shake correction parameter information;
the processor performs operations further comprising:
setting an observer mode that corresponds to an observer who operates the endoscope apparatus,
detecting the set observer mode, and accessing a storage device that stores a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information that respectively correspond to a plurality of the observer modes, and
selecting the shake correction parameter information that corresponds to the detected observer mode from the plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information stored in the storage device;

the storage device stores a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information about a number of frames of the captured images used to detect the motion amount, and
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to a first number of frames when the detected observer mode is a first observer mode, and to correspond to a second number of frames that is larger than the first number of frames when the detected observer mode is a second observer mode.

3. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:
the second observer mode corresponds to an observer having a skill level higher than an observer who corresponds to the first observer mode.

4. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures images; and
a processor that performs operations including:
selecting shake correction parameter information from a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information based on an observation state of the imaging section;
detecting a motion amount of an object between the captured images; and
performing a shake correction process on the captured images based on the detected motion amount;
wherein:
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to the observation state of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus;
the motion amount is detected using a detection method that corresponds to the selected shake correction parameter information; and
the processor performs operations further comprising:
controlling an exposure time when capturing the captured images,
adjusting the exposure time based on the selected shake correction parameter information,
controlling a frame rate when capturing the captured images, and
adjusting the exposure time by controlling the frame rate.

5. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures images; and
a processor that performs operations including:
selecting shake correction parameter information from a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information based on an observation state of the imaging section;
detecting a motion amount of an object between the captured images; and
performing a shake correction process on the captured images based on the detected motion amount;
wherein:
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to the observation state of the imaging section attached to the endoscope apparatus; and
the motion amount is detected using a detection method that corresponds to the selected shake correction parameter information; and
the processor performs operations further comprising:
switching a light source between a white light source that emits white light and a special light source that emits special light, the special light being light within a specific wavelength band,
detecting a light source that emits light applied to an object, and accessing a storage device that stores a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information that respectively correspond to a plurality of light sources, and
selecting the shake correction parameter information from the plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information stored in the storage device to correspond to the detected light source.

6. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein:
the storage device stores a plurality of pieces of shake correction parameter information that indicate a level of the shake correction process; and
the shake correction parameter information is selected to correspond to a first level when the captured images are white light images acquired by applying the white light, and to correspond to a second level lower than the first level when the captured images are special light images acquired by applying the special light.

7. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein the specific wavelength band is narrower than a wavelength band of the white light.

8. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein:
the white light images and the special light images are in vivo images, and
the specific wavelength band included in the in vivo images is a

Assignees

• On Seigo
• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• On Seigo

Classifications

• H04N23/683

  performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory · 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

• A61B1/000095

  for image enhancement · CPC title

• A61B5/6847

  mounted on an invasive device · CPC title

• A61B5/1107

  Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ or muscle · CPC title