US 12,185,916 B2
Endoscope apparatus, processor for endoscope image, and method for generating endoscope image
Takeo Suzuki, Hachioji (JP)
Assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/900,135.
Application 17/900,135 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/009821, filed on Mar. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0409011 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); G02B 23/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/00193 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00009 (2013.01); A61B 1/00096 (2013.01); A61B 1/00174 (2013.01); A61B 1/00186 (2013.01); A61B 1/00194 (2022.02); G02B 23/2415 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
a first optical lens;
a second optical lens;
at least one image pickup device configured to generate:
a first image pickup signal based on a first optical image formed on the at least one image pickup device from the first optical lens, and
a second image pickup signal based on a second optical image formed on the at least one image pickup device from the second optical lens, wherein a first effective optical path length between the first optical lens and the at least one image pickup device is different than a second effective optical path length between the second optical lens and the at least one image pickup device; and
a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:
generate a first image of an object based on the first image pickup signal, the first image having a first focused area of the object due to the first effective optical path length;
generate a second image of an object based on the second image pickup signal, the second image having a second focused area of the object due to the second effective optical path length;
correct a parallax in at least one of the first image or the second image;
determine an area in the first image having a contrast higher than a contrast of an area in the second image to be included in the first focused area to extract only the first focused area from the first image;
determine an area in the second image having a contrast higher than a contrast of an area in the first image to be included in the second focused area to extract only the second focused area from the second image; and
combine the first focused area and the second focused area to generate an endoscope image different from each of the first image and the second image.