Video-processing device and video-processing method

1. A video-processing device ( 2 ), comprising: a video signal input ( 4 ) adapted for connection to an image-capturing device ( 5 ); a video signal output ( 10 ) adapted for connection to an image display device ( 11 ); a primary video data channel ( 8 ) with a video signal processing unit ( 9 ) configured to process a video signal; at least one secondary video data channel ( 13 ) branching off from the video signal input ( 4 ) and configured to transmit unprocessed data out of the device; and an interface ( 14 ) configured for connection of an expansion device ( 3 ), through which the secondary video data channel ( 13 ) carries data out of the device and the primary video data channel ( 8 ) carries processed data out of the device.

2. The video-processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the interface ( 14 ) is designed to transmit at least one of: control data, configuration data, or video data channels ( 8 , 13 ), or to provide a power supply.

3. The video-processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured to determine when an expansion device ( 3 ) is connected.

4. An expansion device comprising an interface ( 14 ) that allows for connection to a video-processing device ( 2 ), the video-processing device ( 2 ) including a video signal input ( 4 ) adapted for connection to an image-capturing device ( 5 ); a video signal output ( 10 ) adapted for connection to an image display device ( 11 ); a primary video data channel ( 8 ) with a video signal processing unit ( 9 ) configured to process a video signal; and at least one secondary video data channel ( 13 ) branching off from the video signal input ( 4 ) and configured to transmit unprocessed data out of the device,

wherein the primary video data channel ( 8 ) with the video signal processing unit ( 9 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device secondary video data channel ( 13 ) in the expansion device, and

the secondary video data channel ( 13 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device primary video data channel ( 8 ) in the expansion device, and

the expansion device includes a video signal mixing unit ( 15 ) which is also connected to the video signal processing unit ( 9 ).

5. The expansion device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a video signal output ( 10 ) adapted for connection to at least one of an image display device ( 11 ) or a video signal output ( 17 ) such that a mixed video signal ( 16 ) is adapted to be fed back into the video-processing device ( 2 ).

6. The expansion device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a video signal input ( 4 ) adapted for connection to an image-capturing device ( 5 ).

7. The expansion device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising an expansion interface ( 29 ) to which two further expansion devices ( 3 ) are coupleable.

8. The expansion device as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a power supply to the expansion device ( 3 ) which is enabled through the video-processing device ( 2 ).

9. The expansion device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the interface ( 14 ) is configured such that the video-processing device ( 2 ) and the expansion device ( 3 ) are at least one of connectable using a mechanical connection or a positive connection.

10. A video-processing assembly ( 1 ), comprising:

a video-processing device ( 2 ) including a video signal input ( 4 ) adapted for connection to an image-capturing device ( 5 ); a video signal output ( 10 ) adapted for connection to an image display device ( 11 ); a primary video data channel ( 8 ) with a video signal processing unit ( 9 ) configured to process a video signal; and at least one secondary video data channel ( 13 ) branching off from the video signal input ( 4 ) and configured to transmit unprocessed data out of the device, and

an expansion device including an interface ( 14 ) that allows for connection to the video-processing device ( 2 ),

wherein the primary video data channel ( 8 ) with the video signal processing unit ( 9 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device secondary video data channel ( 13 ) in the expansion device, and

the secondary video data channel ( 13 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device primary video data channel ( 8 ) in the expansion device, and

the expansion device includes a video signal mixing unit ( 15 ) which is also connected to the video signal processing unit ( 9 ).

11. An endoscope assembly ( 32 ), comprising the image-processing assembly as claimed in claim 10 , at least one camera head ( 30 , 31 ), and at least one image display device ( 11 ).

12. A method for image processing that uses at least two video data channels ( 8 , 13 ), the method comprising:

processing a primary one of the video data channels ( 8 ) using a video-processing device ( 2 ) including a video signal input ( 4 ) adapted for connection to an image-capturing device ( 5 ); a video signal output ( 10 ) adapted for connection to an image display device ( 11 ); a primary video data channel ( 8 ) with a video signal processing unit ( 9 ) configured to process a video signal; and at least one secondary video data channel ( 13 ) branching off from the video signal input ( 4 ) and configured to transmit unprocessed data out of the device;

processing a secondary one of the video data channels ( 13 ) using an expansion device ( 3 ) including an interface ( 14 ) that allows for connection to the video-processing device ( 2 ),

wherein the primary video data channel ( 8 ) with the video signal processing unit ( 9 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device secondary video data channel ( 13 ) in the expansion device, and

the secondary video data channel ( 13 ) of the video-processing device ( 2 ) is connected via the interface ( 14 ) to an expansion device primary video data channel ( 8 ) in the expansion device, and

the expansion device includes a video signal mixing unit ( 15 ) which is also connected to the video signal processing unit ( 9 ); and

combining the primary and secondary video data channels ( 8 , 13 ) with one another in the expansion device ( 3 ).