Camera scope electronic variable angle of view

1. A system comprising:

a scope including a lens;

an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including an array of pixels;

interface elements which, when actuated, cause an angle of view to be selected in a single image readout frame; and

image acquisition and processing circuitry that receives an indication from one or more of the interface elements of the selected angle of view and, in response identifies a sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels and that corresponds to the selected angle of view;

wherein, in response to identifying the sub-array of pixels, the image acquisition and processing circuitry causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a 125°-180° lens.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the angle of view may be changed to a 30° angle of view.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the angle of view may be changed to a 70° angle of view.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the angle of view is changed to a second angle of view by actuation of one or more interface elements, the image acquisition and processing circuitry identifies a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels that corresponds to the second angle of view and causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the second angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the angle of view is digitally rotatable in response to activation of one of the interface elements.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the sub-array of pixels corresponds to the indicated angle of view for the angle of view at a first position.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry detects that the angle of view has been rotated from a first position to a second position and, in response, identifies a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the pixel array and causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view at the second position and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a notch which is displayed on a display device along with information retrieved from the imaging sensor.

10. A scope, comprising:

a lens disposed in a distal tip of the scope;

an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including an array of pixels;

interface elements which, when actuated, cause an angle of view to be selected in a single image readout frame; and

image acquisition and processing circuitry that receives an indication from one or more of the interface elements of the selected angle of view and, in response identifies a sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels and that corresponds to the selected angle of view;

wherein, in response to identifying the sub-array of pixels, the image acquisition and processing circuitry causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

11. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the lens is a 125°-180° lens.

12. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the angle of view is 0°.

13. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the angle of view is 30°.

14. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the angle of view is 70°.

15. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry identifies a sub-array of pixels within the array of pixels that corresponds to a 0° angle of view and receives imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 0° angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

16. The scope of claim 15 , wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry detects a rotation of the angle of view from a first position to a second position and, in response, identifies a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels and causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 50° angle of view at the second position and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

17. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry identifies a sub-array of pixels within the array of pixels that corresponds to a 30° angle of view and receives imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 30° angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

18. The scope of claim 17 wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry detects a rotation of the angle of view from a first position to a second position and, in response, identifies a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels and causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 30° angle of view at the second position and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

19. The scope of claim 10 , wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry identifies a sub-array of pixels within the array of pixels that corresponds to a 70° angle of view and receives imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 70° angle of view and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

20. The scope of claim 19 wherein the image acquisition and processing circuitry detects a rotation of the angle of view from a first position to a second position and, in response, identifies a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels and causes the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the 70° angle of view at the second position and generates an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.

21. A method, comprising

providing a scope having a lens in a distal tip of the scope and having one or more interface elements;

receiving an indication, by a processor and from one or more of the one or more interface elements, to select an angle of view provided to a display device;

identifying, by a processor in response to receiving the indication of the selected angle of view, a sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels that corresponds to the selected angle of view;

causing, by the processor in response to identifying the sub-array of pixels, the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view; and

generating an image from the image data for display on the display device with the changed angle of view.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising exposing the sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the array of pixels provides a 4K imaging sensor.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 0° to 30°.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 0° to 70°.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 0° to 70°.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 30° to 0°.

28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 70° to 0°.

29. The method of claim 21 , wherein the angle of view is changed from 70° to 30°.

30. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

receiving, by a processor and from one or more of the one or more interface elements, an indication of a degree of rotation of the angle of view from a first position to a second position and, in response, identifying, by a processor, a second sub-array of pixels of the imaging sensor that is less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view at the second position;

causing the imaging sensor to read out less than all of the pixels in the array of pixels by reading out imaging data from the second sub-array of pixels corresponding to the indicated angle of view at the second position; and

generating an image from the imaging data for display on a display device.