An illumination control device in an endoscopic imaging system

This invention relates to an illumination control device (200) in an endoscopic imaging System comprising; a control member (210) wherein the control member comprises; an aperture (404) in the form of a variable opening in a carrying or bearing member (402), and disposed between the optical port (160) and the light source (112), the movement of the aperture (404) across the optic port (160) corresponding to the movement of the control member (210) controls the area of the optic port (160) transmitting the light to the endoscope (190), and in turn controlling the illumination intensity at the examination site; and a grating (406) having at least two holes (410, 412), the pattern of the holes (410, 412) being variable across a guiding curve (414) so as to gradually vary the opacity of the grating (406), the illumination intensity control being dependent on the width of the aperture (404) and the opacity of the grating (406).