PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can acquire an image of a sector in vivo at the rear of the edge of a tube of the endoscope. SOLUTION: An endoscope has an imaging unit. This imaging unit can include a reflex surface for example for making an image of sector surrounding the tube of the endoscope reflect on an image sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Endoscope with panoramic view

An in vivo endoscope illuminates tissue using multiple sources. Light from a short-range source exits a tubular wall of the endoscope through a first illumination region that overlaps an imaging region, and the light returns through the imaging region after reflection by tissue, to form an image in a camera. Light from a long-range source exits the tubular wall through a second illumination region that does not overlap the imaging region. The endoscope of some embodiments includes a mirror, and light from an emitter for the short-range source is split and reaches the first illumination region from both sides of an optical axis of the camera. Illuminating the first illumination region with split fractions of light results in greater uniformity of illumination, than illuminating directly with an un-split beam. The energy generated by each source is changed depending on distance of the tissue to be imaged.

In vivo camera with multiple sources to illuminate tissue at different distances

Three objective lenses (11) having optical axes L oriented to different directions are mounted on a head portion (10) of an endoscope device. The objective lens (11) has a predetermined view angle θ centered by the optical axes L. Each objective lens (11) is disposed so as to have the peripheral portions of its viewing field overlap with the peripheral portions of the viewing fields of adjoining other objective lenses (11). Hence, the three objective lenses (11) causes the head portion (10) as a whole to have a view angle φ extending over a wider range than the view angle θ of the objective lens (11) with no discontinuation. Each optical image of a testing target part captured within this view angle φ is imaged by an imaging element.

Endoscope device and imaging method using the same

The present invention discloses a mobile communication device that allows the user to easily perform simultaneous voice communication and image communication that allows the user to transmit high quality image information to another user and receive high quality image information from another user. The mobile communication device provides multiple cameras and/or display screens that allow a user to easily photograph a subject and view captured images that are received either from a camera located in the device or from another user.

Mobile communication device with enhanced image communication capability

An endoscope attachment enabling the obtainment of images in front and sides of the endoscope. The endoscope attachment has a transparent installation section (100) and a transparent circular tube-like image take-in section (110). The installation section (100) has two through-holes (120, 130) and is used to install the attachment on a probe. The image take-in section (110) has on its outer wall a second mirror (171) with a trumpet-like shape and in its inside a wide-angle lens (150) with a hyperboloid and is used for the probe to taken in an image to a camera. A first mirror (151) is formed on a part of the hyperboloid of the wide-angle lens (150).

Endoscope attachment and endoscope

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device by which a wide viewing angle is obtained even without rotating the image pickup device, image pickup and inspection time is shortened and miniaturization is performed, and an endoscopic system using it. SOLUTION: This image pickup device is provided with a convex rotating body mirror 8, a lens 11 and an image pickup element 14 arranged at positions facing the mirror and a light irradiation part for irradiating an image pickup object with light. The light irradiation part is provided behind the convex rotating body mirror 8, the side part of the image pickup device is irradiated and a side part image is picked up. The light directly emitted from the light irradiation part to the convex rotating body mirror 8 is shielded by a light shielding body 10. Also, the light irradiation part is provided in front of the convex rotating body mirror 8, the front part of the image pickup device is irradiated and a front part image is picked up from a hole provided on the vertex part of the convex rotating body mirror 8 so as to include the rotary axis.

Image pickup device and endoscopic system provided with the same

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide image communication equipment that can simultaneously transmit a video image of a sender itself and a surrounding video image with a simple operation and allows a receiver side to select a desired image. SOLUTION: The image communication equipment is provided with an imaging means 8a that images an optical image obtained by collecting a reflected light from a convex revolution-body mirror with a lens, an image data conversion means 3 that converts a circular image obtained by the imaging means 8a into a panoramic image or a perspective image, a transmission means 13 that transmits image data, a display means 5, an operation panel 7, a reception means 1 that receives the image data, and an image data storage means 2a. A transmitter side displays a transmitted surrounding image at a maximum 360-degrees on a monitor and can transmit a video image of a sender itself. A receiver side converts the received image into a panoramic image or a perspective image, selects a desired image and can display the image.

Image communication equipment and portable telephone

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety by confirming easily the surrounding of a moving object SOLUTION: This moving object surrounding monitor for monitoring the surroundings of a moving object is provided with at least one omnidirectional visual sensor including an optical system for performing central projective transformation of the image of a moving object surrounding area into an optical image and an imaging part including an imaging lens and for converting the optical image subjected to central projective transformation into image data, an image processing part for converting the image data into at least ether panoramic image data or perspective image data, a displaying part for displaying at least either a panoramic image corresponding to the panoramic image data or a perspective image corresponding to the panoramic image data, and a display controlling part for controlling the displaying part An omnidirectional visual system is mounted on the moving object surrounding monitor, and the displaying part displays the perspective image that locks down upon the surroundings of the moving object

Device for monitoring moving object surrounding

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for monitoring the surrounding of a vehicle, which can clearly recognize a distance to an obstacle such as another vehicle or a direction thereto from a video image obtained by an omnidirectional image pickup device. SOLUTION: A CCD camera 8 picks up a video image around a vehicle V displayed on an omnidirectional convex mirror 7. The video image picked up by the camera 8 is processed and the video image after processing in displayed on a monitor 24 placed at a position easily recognized by a driver. As the video image after the processing displayed on the monitor 24, a reference line α denoting the vehicle (tail end position) and equi-distance lines L1, L2 apart from the reference line α by a prescribed distance are displayed in addition to the video image obtained by picking up the immediate rear part of e.g. the vehicle V and also an arrow 31 denoting the rear direction is additionally displayed. Providing image pickup devices 1, 2 in a rair at front and rear positions on a diagonal line of the vehicle V can pick up the entire surroundings of the vehicle V.

Device for monitoring surroundings of vehicle

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an omnidirectional vision system that can sufficiently trace a moving picture even when number of pixels is increased through high- speed image conversion processing and can be downsized. SOLUTION: The omnidirectional vision system is provided with an optical system 1 that can obtain a video image with a vision area around 360 degrees and convert the central projection, an image pickup means 2 that converts an optical image obtained through the optical system 1 into image data, an image recording means 3 that records an output from the image pickup means 2, an image conversion means 4 that receives image data into a panorama image or a perspective image or the like, a display means 5, and a display control means 6. The image control means 4 consists of a hardware unit including an arithmetic logic circuit for panorama conversion and perspective conversion and can conduct image conversion processing at a higher speed than that of a conventional technology where software conducts the processing and then the omnidirectional vision system can be downsized.

Kiyoshi Kumada

Papers

Image pickup device and endoscopic system provided with the same

Image communication equipment and portable telephone

Device for monitoring moving object surrounding

Device for monitoring surroundings of vehicle

Omnidirectional vision system