The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 10, 1992
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1990
David Chatenever, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Ralph D Harris, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Randal E Stokes, Goleta, CA (US);
Medical Concepts, Inc., Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the exposure of video images of the type that are commonly generated during endoscopic examination of tissue. The output of a video amplifier is detected and compared with an ideal value. A corresponding adjustment of amplifier gain is determined and such adjustment compared with a predetermined optimum range of amplifier gain. In the event that the calculated adjustment lies within such optimum range, the gain of the amplifier is adjusted accordingly. In the event that the optimum range is exceeded by the absolute value of the calculated adjustment, the exposure time of the camera sensor and the gain of the amplifier are adjusted in opposite senses whereby the amplifier is continuously operated within its optimum range.