JP6027351B2 - Color adjustment system for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for performing color tone adjustment in an electronic endoscope, and more particularly to a system for performing white balance adjustment.

  In the white balance adjustment of the electronic endoscope, the user inserts the distal end of the insertion portion into the white balance adjustment cylinder serving as a white reference and takes an image of the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder. However, in such a white balance adjustment process, when the user inserts the distal end of the insertion section into the white balance adjustment cylinder, the distal end of the insertion section may hit the cylinder opening and be damaged. To solve this problem, the arrangement of the white balance adjustment cylinder and the button for starting the white balance adjustment can be devised to facilitate the insertion of the distal end of the insertion section into the cylinder and to hold the insertion section while holding the insertion section. A configuration has been proposed in which a button operation can be performed by hand to prevent collision of the distal end of the insertion portion with the cylinder opening (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-029751 A

  However, in white balance adjustment, it is not necessary to pay attention only when the user inserts the distal end of the insertion portion into the white balance adjustment cylinder. For example, in white balance adjustment, it is necessary to grasp the distance from the bottom of the cylinder at the distal end of the insertion portion from the monitor image and operate the white balance adjustment start button while maintaining the distance at an appropriate distance for white balance adjustment. Therefore, the user needs to pay attention simultaneously to the position of the hand holding the insertion portion, the monitor screen, the position of the button on the operation panel, and the like. In particular, since the endoscope insertion portion is sterilized, it is not desirable that the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion contacts the bottom surface or the inner wall of the cylinder.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce a user's burden in color tone adjustment including white balance adjustment.

  The color adjustment system for an electronic endoscope of the present invention is a color adjustment system for an electronic endoscope for performing color adjustment using an adjustment cylinder, and includes an electronic endoscope insertion unit based on an image in the adjustment cylinder Distance grasping means for grasping the distance from the tip to the bottom surface of the adjustment cylinder, and color adjustment is started when the distance is within a predetermined distance.

  It is preferable that the distance grasping means grasps the distance using at least one of the basic figure included in the image, the contrast, the light amount, and the pattern. Further, it is preferable that the color tone adjustment is started when the entire image has a predetermined uniformity in addition to the predetermined distance. The color tone adjustment is, for example, white balance adjustment. It is preferable that the color tone adjustment system further includes position guiding means for guiding the position of the distal end of the electronic endoscope insertion portion.

  An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention includes the above-described color tone adjustment system.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user in color tone adjustment including white balance adjustment.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic endoscope system to which the white balance adjustment system which is one Embodiment of this invention was applied. In the white balance adjustment process, the state where the insertion portion is gripped by the user and the tip thereof is inserted into the white balance adjustment cylinder is shown. 3 shows an example of an in-cylinder image taken in the state of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the white balance adjustment mode of 1st Embodiment. An example of the figure drawn on the white balance adjustment cylinder bottom face used for contrast evaluation of 2nd Embodiment is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the white balance adjustment mode of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a guidance mark. It is a figure which shows another example of a guidance mark.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope system to which a color tone adjustment system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  The electronic endoscope system 10 includes a scope 11, a processor device 12, and a monitor 13. The scope 11 includes an insertion portion made of a flexible tube, and an imaging element 14 such as a CCD is disposed at the tip thereof. The image sensor 14 is driven by an image sensor drive circuit 15 provided in the connector portion of the scope 11, and the image sensor drive circuit 15 is controlled by a system controller 16 in the processor device 12.

  An image signal output from the image sensor 14 is input to a video signal processing circuit 18 in the processor device 12 via, for example, an AFE (analog front end) 17 provided in a connector portion of the scope 11 and subjected to predetermined processing. Then, for example, it is output to an output device such as the monitor 13. The video signal processing circuit 18 is controlled by the system controller 16, and the system controller 16 can acquire image data from the video signal processing circuit 18 and can output an image signal to the video signal processing circuit 18.

  Further, a front panel 19 of the processor device 12 is connected to the system controller 16, and the system controller 16 executes various processes based on operations of switches provided on the front panel 19. Further, a light source unit 20 is provided in the processor device 12, and illumination light is transmitted from the light source unit 20 to the distal end of the insertion portion of the scope 11 through the light guide 21 provided in the scope 11, and irradiated from the distal end. Is done. The light source unit 20 includes a dimming diaphragm (not shown), and their movement is controlled by, for example, the system controller 16.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the insertion portion 22 of the scope 11 is gripped by the user and the tip thereof is inserted into the white balance adjustment cylinder (color tone adjustment cylinder) 23 in the white balance adjustment processing. The white balance adjustment cylinder 23 is a cylindrical auxiliary tool, and is attached to, for example, a rack (not shown) on which the processor device 12 is placed.

  The white balance adjustment process is performed when the user inserts the distal end of the insertion portion 22 into the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 in a state where imaging with the imaging element 14 is started by irradiating illumination light. The inside of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 that is white as the reference color is illuminated with light from the light source unit 20, and the image is taken by the image sensor 14. The captured image is sent to the video signal processing circuit 18 and is also displayed on the monitor 13. FIG. 3 shows an example of an in-cylinder image taken at this time.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the white balance adjusting cylinder 23 has a cylindrical shape, and a circle C, which is the bottom surface, is projected on the captured image. In the first embodiment, for example, a circle C is extracted from an image photographed by the system controller 16, and it is determined whether or not the size is a predetermined size. In this embodiment, when the size of the extracted circle C is a predetermined size, the system controller 16 determines that the distance between the distal end of the insertion portion 22 and the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 is appropriate. The white balance adjustment process is started. That is, the system controller 16 adjusts the gain of the RGB signal of the video signal processing circuit 18 so that the RGB signal output of a predetermined area in the image becomes a predetermined ratio.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the white balance adjustment mode of the first embodiment. The white balance adjustment mode is started, for example, by operating a white balance button (not shown) provided on the front panel 19 of the processor device 12.

  In step S100, in order to adjust the white balance of the image acquired by the scope 11, an image for one field or one frame of the captured image is read into the system controller 16 from the video signal processing circuit 18, for example. In step S102, it is determined whether the time is within the time-out period, that is, within a predetermined time after the white balance adjustment mode is selected. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed and timed out, an error message indicating that acquisition of the white balance adjustment image has failed is displayed on the monitor 13 in step S110, and the white balance adjustment mode is displayed. Immediately ends and the process returns to the normal mode.

  If it is determined that the time is within the time-out period, it is determined in step S104 whether or not substantially the entire white balance adjustment image read in step S100 is a white image having a certain uniformity. . For example, it is determined whether or not the chromaticity coordinates (x, y) of all the pixels are within a predetermined area. If it is determined that the acquired image does not have a certain uniformity, the process returns to step S100, the next field or frame image is read as a white balance adjustment image, and the same process is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that the acquired image is a white image having a certain uniformity, in step S106, a circle C (the contour of the bottom surface of the adjustment cylinder) in FIG. It is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the size is a predetermined size. That is, since the size of the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 displayed in the acquired image increases as the distal end of the insertion portion approaches the bottom surface, in the first embodiment, the size of the bottom surface (circle C) is monitored. Thus, it is determined whether or not the distal end of the insertion portion is at an appropriate distance for white balance adjustment.

  If it is determined that the size of the bottom surface (circle C) of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 displayed in the acquired image is not a predetermined size (for example, the radius is not within the predetermined range), the process proceeds to step S100. Returning, the next field or frame image is read as a white balance adjustment image, and the same processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S106 that the size of the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 is a predetermined size, a conventionally known white balance adjustment process is started in step S108. When the white balance adjustment is completed, the white balance adjustment mode ends.

  That is, in this embodiment, the white balance adjustment process (step S108) is performed when the entire acquired image is substantially uniform and the projected white balance adjustment cylinder 23 has a predetermined size. The white balance adjustment process is automatically started on the assumption that it is inserted into the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 and disposed at an appropriate position (distance).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, after the user presses the white balance button to activate the white balance adjustment mode, the distal end of the insertion portion is inserted into the white balance adjustment cylinder, and the distal end is the inner wall of the cylinder while looking at the monitor. It is not necessary to perform a switch operation or the like for starting the white balance adjustment process when it is determined whether the tip is in the proper position and when it is determined that the tip is in the proper position. This reduces the items that the user must pay attention to at the same time in white balance adjustment, thereby reducing the work burden.

  Next, a white balance adjustment system according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the contour shape of the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder is extracted, and the white balance adjustment process is automatically started based on the size. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, for example, a black and white figure S as shown in FIG. 5 is arranged at substantially the center of the bottom surface of the white balance adjustment cylinder, and the tip of the insertion portion of the scope 11 is used for white balance adjustment processing from the contrast. It is determined whether or not it exists at an appropriate position.

  That is, in the second embodiment, instead of extracting the contour C of the bottom surface of the adjustment cylinder and evaluating its size in step S106 of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, the contrast value of the entire image is obtained with respect to the acquired image in the same step. The white balance adjustment process in step S108 is started when the calculated value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Next, a white balance adjustment system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 4 in the description of the first embodiment, and shows the flow of processing in the white balance adjustment mode of the third embodiment.

  Steps S200 to S206, S210, and S214 correspond to steps S100 to S106, S108, and S110 of FIG. 4, respectively, and similar processing is executed in the corresponding steps. That is, in step S200, an image captured by the scope 11 is read into the system controller 16 (FIG. 1), and in step 204, whether the acquired image is a substantially uniform white image (an image inside the adjustment cylinder) or not. Is determined. If it is determined that the color is not substantially uniform white, the process returns to step S200 to acquire the next image. If it is determined that the color is approximately uniform, the bottom contour of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 is extracted from the acquired image in step S206. It is then determined whether the magnitude is within a predetermined value. In step S210, a conventionally known white balance adjustment process is executed, and in step S214, a timeout error is displayed.

  In the third embodiment, in addition to the processing of the first embodiment, after the determination in step S206, a mark for guiding the distal end of the insertion portion held by the user to an appropriate position is displayed on the monitor 13 (FIG. 1). That is, in the third embodiment, when it is determined in step S206 that the acquired image does not include the circle C having a predetermined size, the system controller 16 superimposes a blinking guidance mark on the acquired image in step S212, for example. Output to the monitor 13.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S206 that the acquired image includes the circle C having a predetermined size, the blinking display of the guidance mark is stopped in step S208, and for example, an “OK” message is displayed instead. In step S210, white balance adjustment processing is executed, and this processing ends.

  7 and 8 respectively show examples of the guidance mark displayed in step S212. In the example of FIG. 7, the bottom surface contour shape P of the white balance adjustment cylinder 23 when the distal end of the insertion portion is disposed at an appropriate position is superimposed on the acquired image. That is, the bottom surface contour shape P in FIG. 7 is the arrangement and size of the bottom surface contour when the distal end of the insertion portion is disposed at an appropriate distance from the bottom surface of the adjustment tube 23 and is disposed at the substantially cylindrical center of the adjustment tube 23. Indicates. As a result, the user knows that if the actual bottom surface contour C is smaller than the circle P that is the guide mark, the tip should be closer to the bottom surface, and if it is larger, it should be farther away. In addition, it can be easily understood whether the tip should be moved in the left, right, up or down direction from the deviation of the centers of the circles C and P.

  On the other hand, the example of FIG. 8 does not display the circle P itself that is the contour shape, but displays, for example, four corner registration marks T1 to T4 in order to indicate the position of the circle P that expresses the bottom surface contour. . That is, if the position of the distal end of the insertion portion is in an appropriate position, the corners of the four corner registration marks T1 to T4 are in contact with the contour circle C on the bottom surface of the cylinder.

  As described above, also in the third embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the user can easily move the distal end of the insertion portion to an appropriate position by displaying the guidance mark.

  In addition to this embodiment, the automatic determination of whether or not the distance is appropriate may be performed by, for example, fixing the dimming diaphragm and evaluating the brightness of the entire acquired image (the amount of illumination light). It is also possible to draw a pattern in the white balance adjustment cylinder and analyze the shape of the pattern photographed in the acquired image.

  In the present embodiment, the white balance adjustment cylinder is cylindrical, but the cross-sectional shape of the adjustment cylinder is not limited to the cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the white balance adjustment has been described as an example. However, for example, it can be used in the color tone adjustment using a color other than white as a reference color.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope system 11 Scope 12 Processor apparatus 13 Monitor 14 Imaging element (CCD)
16 System Controller 18 Video Signal Processing Circuit 19 Front Panel 20 Light Source

Claims (5)

An electronic endoscope color tone adjustment system for performing color tone adjustment using an adjustment cylinder,
A distance grasping means for grasping the distance from the distal end of the electronic endoscope insertion portion to the bottom surface of the adjustment tube based on the image in the adjustment tube;
The distance Ri predetermined distance away, the electronic endoscope color tone adjustment system, characterized in that to start the color tone adjustment when the entire image has a predetermined uniformity.   The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the distance grasping means grasps the distance using at least one of a size, a contrast, a light amount, and a pattern of a basic figure included in the image. Color adjustment system for mirrors. The color adjustment system for an electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the color adjustment is white balance adjustment. The color adjustment system for an electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 2 , further comprising position guiding means for guiding a position of the distal end of the electronic endoscope insertion portion. An electronic endoscope system comprising the color tone adjustment system according to claim 1.

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