Patent ID: 7050086
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: A61B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An electronic endoscope system including a video scope having a solid-state image sensor that successively produces a frame of color image-pixel signals composed of two frames of first-type-single-color image-pixel signals and second-type-single-color image-pixel signals, said electronic endoscope system comprising: a calculation system that calculates a first difference value between a first value of a central first-type-single-color image-pixel signal for a central first-type-single-color image-pixel and a first average of values of circumferential first-type-single-color image-pixel signals for pixels surrounding said central first-type-single-color image-pixel, and a second difference value between a second value of a corresponding central second-type-single-color image-pixel signal for a central second-type-single-color image-pixel and a second average of values of circumferential second-type-single-color image-pixel signals for pixels surrounding said central second-type-single-color image-pixel; and a color-balance alteration system that alters said first value when it is smaller than said first average of values, and that alters said second value when it is smaller than said second average of values, such that one of said first and second values is increased in proportion to an absolute value of a corresponding one of said first and second difference values, and such that the remaining one of said first and second values is decreased in proportion to an absolute value of the remaining corresponding one of said first and second difference values.