Imaging system and synchronization control method

1. An imaging system comprising:

a first light source which emits visible light to irradiate a subject; and

a second light source which emits excitation light in an infrared region and which causes a fluorescent substance administered to the subject to emit fluorescence;

first and second imaging devices configured to image the subject;

first and second video processors provided corresponding to the first and second imaging devices, and configured to process an imaged video of the subject imaged by either of the corresponding imaging devices and to output the processed video to an output unit; and

a single genlock transmitter which is provided in the first video processor and configured to generate and transmit a genlock signal to a single genlock receiver which is provided in the second video processor,

wherein the first video processor controls the lighting of each of the first and second light the first and second light sources such that they alternately perform lighting in synchronization with a frame period of the imaged video or an integer multiple of the frame period of the imaged video based on the genlock signal;

wherein the first video processor controls imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the genlock signal;

wherein the first imaging device performs imaging in synchronization with the lighting of each of the first and second light sources; and

wherein the second imaging device performs imaging in synchronization with the lighting of each of the first and second light sources.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first video processor generates the genlock signal having a period the same as that of a light source synchronization signal that instructs the lighting of each of the first and second light sources so as to be synchronized with the frame period of the imaged video, and transmits the generated genlock signal to the second video processor.

3. The imaging system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first and second devices processors simultaneously receive the genlock signal having a period the same as that of a light source synchronization signal that instructs the lighting of each of the first and second light sources from an external device.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the first video processor controls the lighting of each of the first and second light sources and the imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the received genlock signal; and

wherein the second video processor controls the imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the received genlock signal.

5. The imaging system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first and second devices processors receive an initialization signal for initializing a synchronization timing of the lighting of each of the first and second light sources and imaging of each of the first and second imaging devices within the frame period of the imaged video from an external device.

6. The imaging system according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first video processor, based on reception of the initialization signal,

generates the genlock signal having a period the same as that of a light source synchronization signal that instructs the lighting of each of the first and second light sources so as to be synchronized with the frame period of the imaged video, and transmits the generated genlock signal to the second video processor, and

controls the lighting of each of the first and second light sources and the imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the genlock signal.

7. The imaging system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first video processor receives an initialization signal for initializing a synchronization timing of the lighting of each of the first and second light sources and the imaging of each of the first and second imaging devices within the frame period of the imaged video from an external device, and transmits a synchronization auxiliary signal for initializing the synchronization timing of the imaging of the second imaging device according to the initialization signal to the second video processor based on reception of the initialization signal.

8. The imaging system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first video processor, based on transmission of the synchronization auxiliary signal,

generates the genlock signal having a period the same as that of a light source synchronization signal that instructs the lighting of each of the first and second light sources so as to be synchronized with the frame period of the imaged video, and transmits the generated genlock signal to the second video processor, and

controls the lighting of each of the first and second light sources and the imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the genlock signal.

9. The imaging system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first video processor outputs a left eye imaged video generated based on the processing to the output unit; and

wherein the second video processor outputs a right eye imaged video generated based on the processing to the output unit.

10. A synchronization control method in an imaging system, the imaging system including:

a first light source which emits visible light to irradiate a subject; and

a second light source which emits excitation light in an infrared region and which causes a fluorescent substance administered to the subject to emit fluorescence;

first and second imaging devices configured to image the subject; and

first and second devices processors provided corresponding to the first and second imaging devices, and configured to process an imaged video of the subject imaged by either of the corresponding imaging devices and to output the processed video to an output unit,

the synchronization control method comprising:

generating and transmitting a genlock signal via a single genlock transmitter which is provided in the first video processor;

receiving, from the single genlock transmitter, the genlock signal via a single genlock receiver which is provided in the second video processor;

controlling, via the first video processor:

the lighting of each of the first and second light sources such that they alternately perform lighting in synchronization with a frame period of the imaged video or an integer multiple of the frame period of the image video based on the genlock signal; and

imaging of either of the corresponding imaging devices based on the genlock signal;

performing imaging in synchronization with the lighting of each of the first and second light source devices by the first imaging device; and

performing imaging in synchronization with the lighting of each of the first and second light source devices by the second imaging device.