ENDOSCOPE PROCESSOR, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

Abstract

An endoscope system comprising a signal receiver, a determination block, a correction signal generation block, and a black balance correction block, is provided. The signal receiver receives a pixel signal generated by a pixel. A plurality of the pixel arranged on a light receiving surface on an imaging device. The imaging device is used for capturing an object. The determination block determines whether the pixel signal is a black signal. The black signal is generated by a pixel receiving an optical image of a black area. The correction signal generation block generates a correction signal based on the black pixel signal. The black balance correction block adjusts a black balance of the pixel signal with using the correction signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of an endoscope system having an endoscope processor of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the black balance adjustment block of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing the black balance adjustment process carried out by the black balance adjustment block; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the black balance adjustment block of the second embodiment.

Claims

1. An endoscope processor, comprising; a signal receiver that receives a pixel signal generated by a plurality of pixels arranged on a light receiving surface on an imaging device for capturing an object;a determination block that determines whether said pixel signal is a black pixel signal generated by a pixel received from an optical image of a black area in an optical image of said object;a correction signal generation block that generates a correction signal, which is used to adjust the black balance of said pixel signal, based on said black pixel signal; anda black balance correction block that adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal with use of said correction signal.

2. An endoscope processor according to claim 1, further comprising a luminance signal generation block that generates a luminance signal based on said pixel signal; and said determination block determines whether said pixel signal is said black pixel signal based on said luminance signal.

3. An endoscope processor according to claim 1, further comprising a chrominance signal generation block that generates a chrominance signal based on said pixel signal; and said correction signal generation block generates said correction signal based on said chrominance signal generated based on said black pixel signal and a predetermined chrominance signal, said predetermined chrominance signal being assumed to be said Ideal chrominance signal corresponding to said black pixel, andsaid black balance correction block adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal by correcting said chrominance signal with said correction signal.

4. An endoscope processor according to claim 1, wherein, said pixel signal comprises red, green, and blue signal components,said correction signal generation block generates red and blue correction signals as said correction signal, said red correction signal being the difference between said red and said green signal component of said black pixel signal, said blue correction signal being the difference between said blue and green signal components of said black pixel signal, andsaid black balance correction block adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal by correcting said red and said blue signal components based on said red and said blue correction signals, respectively.

5. An endoscope processor according to claim 1, further comprising a memory block that stores said correction signal generated by said correction signal generation block, and said black balance correction block adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal based on said correction signal stored in said memory block.

6. An endoscope processor according to claim 5, wherein, when said pixel signal received by said signal receiver is determined to be said block pixel signal, said correction signal generation block generates said correction signal based on said black pixel signal newly received by said signal receiver, andwhen said correction signal generation block newly generates said correction signal, said memory block updates said stored correction signal with said newly generated correction signal.

7. An endoscope processor according to claim 5, wherein said memory block stores a plurality of said correction signals generated from a plurality or said black pixel signals, said black balance correction block adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal based on an averaged-signal which is generated by averaging said black pixel signals stored in said memory block.

8. A computer program product, comprising: a controller that activates a signal receiver so that said signal receiver receives a pixel signal generated by a plurality of pixels arranged on a light receiving surface on an imaging device for capturing an object;a determination block that determines whether said pixel signal is a black pixel signal that is generated by a pixel receiving an optical image of a black area in an optical image of said object;a correction signal generation block that generates a correction signal used to adjust the black balance of said pixel signal based on said correction signal; anda black balance correction block that adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal with use of said correction signal.

9. An endoscope system, comprising: An electronic endoscope having an imaging device that generates a pixel signal from a plurality of pixels arranged on a light receiving surface on said imaging device;a determination block that determines whether said pixel signal is a black pixel signal generated by a pixel receiving an optical image of a black area in an optical image of said object;a correction signal generation block that generates a correction signal used to adjust the black balance of said pixel signal based on said correction signal; anda black balance correction block that adjusts the black balance of said pixel signal with use of said correction signal.