# US 2013/0035547 A1 · Image sensor for capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0035547 A1 - Document ID: US20130035547A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/641,595 - Filed: 2011-04-14 - Published: 2013-02-07 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-29 - Assignees: I3SYSTEM, Inc. - Inventors: Han Jung; Byung Hyuk Kim; Yong Woo Lee; Chul Cha; Sang Heun Park; Bong Ki Baek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130035547A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/041: {Capsule endoscopes for imaging} - A61B 1/00036: {Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode} - A61B 1/00163: {Optical arrangements (A61B1/002, A61B1/06 take precedence)} - A61B 1/00181: {for multiple fixed viewing angles (A61B1/00193 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/051: {Details of CCD assembly} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an image sensor for a capsule endoscope which enables a dual mode operation, and more particularly, to an image sensor for a capsule endoscope wherein two image sensors identically designed and manufactured for photographing the inside of a human body are used and set as a master and a slave, respectively so as to enable a dual mode operation in which two chips are linkage-operated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation having two lens for photographing an inside of animal bodies including a human body comprising: a clock generation unit for generating a clock connected to a master image sensor device; the master image sensor device including a master image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by one of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a master control unit for controlling a frame synchronization between the master image sensor and a slave image sensor and an operation of a slave image sensor device, and a master communication unit for communicating with a slave communication unit; and the slave image sensor device including the slave image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by the other of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a slave control unit for controlling an operation of the slave image sensor and a slave communication unit according to the control of the master control unit, and the master communication unit for communicating with the master communication unit. ### Claim 2 An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation having two lens for photographing an inside of animal bodies including a human body comprising: a clock generation unit for generating a clock connected to a master image sensor device; the master image sensor device including a master image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by one of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a master control unit for controlling a frame synchronization between the master image sensor and a slave image sensor and an operation of a slave image sensor device, and a master communication unit for communicating with a slave communication unit; the slave image sensor device including the slave image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by the other of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a slave control unit for controlling an operation of the slave image sensor and a slave communication unit according to the control of the master control unit, and the master communication unit for communicating with the master communication unit; and an operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate at least one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 2, wherein the operation selection device comprises a means-operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate any one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device; and a mode-operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate only one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device or operate them at the same time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 1, further comprising a memory unit for storing an information for setting up a detail operation of the image sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 4, wherein a sleep mode by each step, a single/dual mode, a frame rate, and a timer duration information are stored in the memory unit and the image sensor further comprises a timer for counting the elapsed time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 2, wherein it is connected to the ground (GND) in case of being set up as the master image sensor device and it is connected to the VDD in case of being set up as the slave image sensor device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 1, wherein the slave image sensor device receives the clock generated from the master image sensor device or shares with the master image sensor device so as to receive the clock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 3, wherein, when it is set up as the single mode in the mode-operation selection unit, an output of the clock and an output of a control signal of the master image sensor device maintain a low state (0), so that a power of the slave image sensor device is not used up. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 1, wherein the master image sensor device controls the operation of the slave image sensor device by using only the control signal and the clock signal, so that it can minimize a power consumption thereof. ### Claim 10 An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation having two lens for photographing an inside of animal bodies including a human body comprising: a clock generation unit for generating a clock connected to a master image sensor device; the master image sensor device including a master image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by one of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a master control unit for controlling a frame synchronization between the master image sensor and a slave image sensor and an operation of a slave image sensor device, and a master communication unit for communicating with a slave communication unit; the slave image sensor device including the slave image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by the other of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof, a slave control unit for controlling an operation of the slave image sensor and a slave communication unit according to the control of the master control unit, and the master communication unit for communicating with the master communication unit; an operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate at least one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device; a memory unit for storing an information including a device ID, an image size, a working speed, an operating current, and a LED brightness; and an image data transmission device for outputting the image data, which is outputted by the master image sensor and the slave image sensor, to a receiving device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An image sensor for a capsule endo scope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 10, wherein the image data transmission device adds an information data line to a front of the image frame data and assorts the output of the mast image sensor and the slave image sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 11, wherein the information data includes any information such as a device ID (Device(Sensor) ID), a frame counter, a frame rate, and a LED on time. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation comprising: an operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate at least one of a master image sensor device and a slave image sensor device; the master image sensor device set and operated as a master according to a setting of the operation selection unit; and a slave image sensor device set and operated as a slave according to the setting of the operation selection unit. ### Claim 15 An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation comprising: an operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate at least one of a master image sensor device and a slave image sensor device; the master image sensor device set and operated as a master according to a setting of the operation selection unit; a slave image sensor device set and operated as a slave according to the setting of the operation selection unit; and a memory unit for storing an information for setting up a detail operation of the image sensor device and the slave image sensor device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 14, wherein the master image sensor device comprising; a master image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by one of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof; and a master control unit for controlling a frame synchronization between the master image sensor and a slave image sensor and an operation of a slave image sensor device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 14, wherein the master image sensor device comprising; a master image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by one of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof; a master control unit for controlling a frame synchronization between the master image sensor and a slave image sensor and an operation of a slave image sensor device; and a master communication unit for communicating with a slave communication unit. ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 14, wherein the slave image sensor device comprising; a slave image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by the other of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof; and a slave control unit for controlling an operation of the slave image sensor and a slave communication unit according to the control of the master image sensor device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 14, wherein the master image sensor device comprising; a slave image sensor for encoding an image which is recorded by the other of two lens and outputting an encoded signal thereof; a slave control unit for controlling an operation of the slave image sensor and a slave communication unit according to the control of the master image sensor device; and a slave communication unit for communicating with a master communication unit. ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) An image sensor for a capsule endoscope enabling dual mode operation as in claim 14, wherein the operation selection device comprises a means-operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate any one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device; and a mode-operation selection unit for setting up in order to operate only one of the master image sensor device and the slave image sensor device or operate them at the same time.