Patent ID: 6154248
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An electronic endoscope, comprising:an image sensor that converts an optical image into analog electric image-pixel signals;an analog-to-digital converter that converts said analog electric image-pixel signals into digital electric image-pixel signals on a basis of a first series of clock pulses, a number of converted digital electric image-pixel signals included in one-horizontal-scanning-line being based upon a frequency of said first clock pulses;a pixel-number converter that converts said number of converted digital electric image-pixel signals into another number of digital image-pixel signals so as to enable said digital electric image-pixel signals to be externally outputted on a basis of a second series of clock pulses having a frequency different from that of said first clock pulses; anda determiner that determines whether said frequency of said first clock pulses is larger than said frequency of said second clock pulses,wherein said digital electric image-pixel signals converted from said analog electric image-pixel signals by said analog-digital converter are subjected to a thinning-process executed by said pixel-number converter when it is determined by said determiner that said frequency of said first clock pulses is larger than said frequency of said second clock pulses, and said digital electric image-pixel signals converted from said analog electric image-pixel signals by said analog-digital converter are subjected to a interpolating-process executed by said pixel-number converter when it is determined by said determiner that said frequency of said first clock pulses is smaller than said frequency of said second clock pulses.