Patent ID: 11950006
Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  A | IPC A  H

Claim 15:
16. A system for digital imaging for use in ambient light deficient environments comprising:
an endoscope comprising a lumen and an image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that senses electromagnetic radiation;
a cap configured to selectively cover a distal end of the lumen to block external illumination to each pixel in the pixel array;
a camera control unit in electrical communication with the image sensor; and
a controlled source of electromagnetic radiation;
wherein, during a training period, an interior of the cap is illuminated by the controlled source of electromagnetic radiation;
wherein the image sensor determines, after the endoscope reaches its operating temperature during the training period, white balance coefficients while the cap is covering the distal end of the lumen and while illuminating the interior of the cap by the controlled source of electromagnetic radiation, and, in response to removing the cap from the lumen at the operating temperature, senses electromagnetic radiation with the pixel array to create an image frame; and
wherein the camera control unit corrects white balance of the image frame using the white balance coefficients.