Video imaging system with multiple camera white balance capability

A system for capturing image data, said system comprising:

• a control module having a control switch and a processor, said processor being configured for white balance control and said control switch being configured to initiate white balance control;
• a plurality of input modules connected to said control module and communicating with said processor, each input module being compatible with a family of cameras where all cameras of the family have a common imaging architecture, at least one of said input modules being configured to provide white balance calibration for wide band imaging and narrow band imaging;
• at least one camera coupled to each of said input modules such that each input module is connected between said respective at least one camera and said control module, each input module being configured to provide white balance calibration for said at least one camera coupled thereto;
• two or more of said plurality of input modules configured as active input modules, each active input module having at least one active camera generating an image signal;
• and
• said control module detecting said two or more active input modules, said control module being configured to receive user feedback selecting one of the active cameras of said two or more active input modules to be dual white balanced, and said control module controlling the active input module coupled to said selected camera to retrieve a camera setting indicative of whether wide band imaging or narrow band imaging is being used by the selected camera, to calibrate dual white balance of the image signal of the selected camera based on the camera setting, and to transmit the calibrated image signal to said control module for display.

A system for capturing image data, said system comprising:

• a control module having a control switch and a processor, said processor being configured for white balance control and said control switch being configured to initiate white balance control;
• at least one input module connected to said control module, said input module configured to provide white balance calibration for wide band imaging and narrow band imaging;
• at least one camera coupled to said at least one input module such that said at least one input module is connected between said at least one camera and said control module;
• and
• at least one display monitor coupled to said control module;
• one or more of said at least one input module configured as active input modules, each active input module having an active camera generating an image signal;
• and
• said control module detecting said one or more active input modules and controlling one of said one or more active input modules, selected based on user feedback, to retrieve a camera setting indicative of whether wide band imaging or narrow band imaging is being used by the active camera of the selected input module, to provide dual white balance calibration of the image signal of the active camera coupled to the selected input module based on the camera setting, and to transmit the calibrated image signal to said control module for display on said display monitor.

A method for white balancing image data captured by an image capturing system in a medical operating room, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a control module and at least one input module of said image capturing system, said control module having a processor configured for white balance control and a control switch configured to initiate white balance control, said input module configured to provide white balance calibration for wide band imaging and narrow band imaging;
• connecting the at least one input module to the control module;
• coupling at least one camera to one of said at least one input module such that said at least one input module is connected between said at least one camera and said control module;
• engaging said control switch of said control module;
• detecting, via said control module, at least one active input module from said at least one input module, said active input module having at least one active camera coupled thereto, said active camera generating an image signal;
• selecting one of said at least one active camera for calibration;
• and
• controlling, via said control module, the active input module coupled to the selected camera to retrieve a camera setting indicative of whether wide band imaging or narrow band imaging is being used by the selected camera and to calibrate dual white balance of the image signal of said selected camera based on the camera setting;
• and
• transmitting said calibrated image signal to said control module for display on a display monitor.