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US 7,471,310 B2Granted
Intelligent camera head
AssigneeKARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
InventorsMarc R. Amling, David Chatenever
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A video imaging system that minimizes the effect of EMI on the image data, provides a small, lightweight easy to use camera head, permitting interchangeable use of a variety of intelligent camera heads with a single camera control unit, and allows the utilization of new camera heads with new functions as they become available without having to replace the existing CCU.
Claims26
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera control unit processing a continuous stream of digital video data;
- a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the stream of digital video data to said camera control unit;
- and
- a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the stream of digital video data, said camera head including;
- an imager, for generating an analog stream of video data;
- a timing generator, generating a timing signal particular to said camera head, the timing signal actuating said imager and sent to said camera control unit;
- a converter, for converting the analog stream of video data into the stream of digital video data;
- a serializer, for serializing the stream of digital video data for transmission over said cable;
- at least one digital serial driver;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information;
- said camera control unit having at least one digital serial receiver and is controlled based at least in part upon said timing signal particular to said camera head.
10 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera control unit processing a continuous stream of digital video data;
- a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the stream of digital video data to said camera control unit;
- and
- a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the stream of digital video data, said camera head including;
- an imager, for generating the stream of digital video data;
- a timing generator, generating a timing signal particular to said camera head, the timing signal actuating said imager and sent to said camera control unit;
- at least one digital serial driver;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information;
- said camera control unit having at least one digital serial receiver and is controlled based at least in part upon said timing signal particular to said camera head;
- wherein a plurality of camera heads, each with differing timing signals, are attachable to and controlled by said camera control unit.
9 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera control unit processing a continuous stream of digital video data;
- a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the stream of digital video data to said camera control unit;
- and
- a camera head, connected to said cable, for providing the stream of digital video data, said camera head including;
- an imager, for generating an analog stream of video data;
- a converter, for converting the analog stream of video data into the stream of digital video data;
- a serializer, for serializing the stream of digital video data
- a processor;
- and
- a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.
7 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera control unit processing a continuous stream of digital video data;
- a cable, connected to said camera control unit, for transmitting the stream of digital video data to said camera control unit;
- and
- a camera head, connected to said cable and an endoscope, for providing the stream of digital video data, said camera head including;
- an imager, including an analog to digital converter for generating the stream of digital video data;
- a serializer, for serializing the stream of digital video data for continuous transmission over said cable
- a processor;
- and
- a memory device, accessible by said processor, containing camera head information.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.