Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an article having a fine concave-convex structure on a surface thereof, the structure having pores in which a pore interval is less than or equal to a wavelength of visible light, including: irradiating a surface of the article having the fine concave-convex structure on the surface, with light from an illumination device; capturing an image of reflected light from the surface of the article having the fine concave-convex structure on the surface using imaging device; acquiring color information from an image captured by the imaging device; and inspecting the article having the fine concave-convex structure based on the color information. According to the present invention, it is possible to easily inspect the depth of the pores of anodized alumina and the pitch between the pores, and to provide a method of manufacturing anodized alumina having a stable pore shape.

Abstract: An image data processor comprising an image signal receiver, a histogram generator, a gain calculator, an amplifier, and a signal feeder, is provided. The image signal receiver receives an autofluorescence image signal. The autofluorescence image signal is generated by an imaging device when the imaging device captures an autofluorescence image. The histogram generator generates a histogram of luminance in the autofluorescence image based on the autofluorescence image signal. The gain calculator calculates a gain based on the histogram and a predetermined luminance value. The amplifier amplifies the autofluorescence image signal by the gain. And then the amplifier generates an amplified autofluorescence image signal. The signal feeder outputs the amplified autofluorescence image signal to a monitor. The monitor displays an amplified autofluorescence image.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system has a video-scope, an illumination apparatus, an imaging device, and an image synthesizing processor. The illumination apparatus illuminates a normal light and an excitation-light from the video-scope onto an object. The normal light is reflected off the object, and the excitation-light causes the object to emit fluorescence. The imaging device on the video-scope captures a normal image that is formed by the reflected normal light and a fluorescent image that is formed by the fluorescence. The image synthesizing processor synthesizes the normal image and the fluorescent image into a synthesized image. A color signal of the synthesized image is the same as a color signal of the normal image. A luminance signal or the synthesized image is obtained by mixing a luminance signal of the normal image and a luminance signal of the fluorescent image in a predetermined proportion.

Abstract: An image data processor comprising an image signal receiver, a histogram generator, a gain calculator, an amplifier, and a signal feeder, is provided. The image signal receiver receives an autofluorescence image signal. The autofluorescence image signal is generated by an imaging device when the imaging device captures an autofluorescence image. The histogram generator generates a histogram of luminance in the autofluorescence image based on the autofluorescence image signal. The gain calculator calculates a gain based on the histogram and a predetermined luminance value. The amplifier amplifies the autofluorescence image signal by the gain. And then the amplifier generates an amplified autofluorescence image signal. The signal feeder outputs the amplified autofluorescence image signal to a monitor. The monitor displays an amplified autofluorescence image.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention has a video-scope that has an image sensor, and a light source unit that is capable of selectively emitting normal-light and excitation-light. The electronic endoscope system further has a signal processor and a display processor. The signal processor generates normal color image signals, which corresponds to the normal color image, on the basis of the normal image-pixel signals. Similarly, the signal processor generates auto-fluorescent image signals corresponding to the auto-fluorescent image on the basis of the auto-fluorescent image-pixel signals, and generates diagnosis color image signals corresponding to the diagnosis color image on the basis of the normal color image signals and the auto-fluorescent image signals.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system comprises a video-scope, an imaging device, and a black balance processor. The imaging device, which is provided on the video-scope, is exposed at a normal shutter speed so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an optical image that is formed thereon. The black balance processor generates a black balance value for adjusting the black balance of the image signal, based on a black image signal corresponding to a black image. The black image signal is generated by exposing the imaging device at a high shutter speed that is faster than the normal shutter speed.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system used for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes a single imaging device configured to output image signals corresponding to a received optical image, an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an image forming system configured to form the optical image of the living tissues illuminated with each of the white light and the excitation light on the imaging device, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals output from the single imaging device, the image processing system transforming the received image signals into signals which are allowed to be displayed on the display device, and a control system configured to control the whole of the electronic endoscope system, the image processing system employs image signals, obtained from an image, output from the single imaging device as a first field of image signals of an interlaced image, and empl

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an electronic endoscope including an insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity, an imaging device that receives an optical image and outputs image signals corresponding to the optical image, an image forming system that forms the optical image, an operating pant provided at a rear anchor of the insertion part, and a plurality of operable members arranged at the operating part, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals outputted from the imaging device, the image processing system obtaining a normal image when the living tissues are illuminated with the white light and a fluorescence image when the living tissues are irradiated with the excitation light, and a control system that controls the whole of the electronic endoscope system.

Abstract: An image data processor comprising an image signal receiver, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit, is provided. The image signal receiver receives a reference image signal and a laser image signal. The reference image and the laser image correspond to an optical image of an object respectively illuminated by a reference light and a laser light. An average wavelength of the laser light is shorter than that of the reference light. The first processing unit generates reference edge data and a laser edge data based on the reference image signal and the laser image signal respectively. The reference edge data and the laser edge data corresponds to a reference edge image and a laser edge image respectively. The reference edge image and the laser edge image show only edges in the reference image and the laser image respectively. The second processing unit detects a first partial edge based on the reference edge data and the laser edge data.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprising a signal receiver, a determination block, a correction signal generation block, and a black balance correction block, is provided. The signal receiver receives a pixel signal generated by a pixel. A plurality of the pixel arranged on a light receiving surface on an imaging device. The imaging device is used for capturing an object. The determination block determines whether the pixel signal is a black signal. The black signal is generated by a pixel receiving an optical image of a black area. The correction signal generation block generates a correction signal based on the black pixel signal. The black balance correction block adjusts a black balance of the pixel signal with using the correction signal.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system has a video-scope, an illumination apparatus, an imaging device, and an image synthesizing processor. The illumination apparatus illuminates a normal light and an excitation-light from the video-scope onto an object. The normal light is reflected off the object, and the excitation-light causes the object to emit fluorescence. The imaging device on the video-scope captures a normal image that is formed by the reflected normal light and a fluorescent image that is formed by the fluorescence. The image synthesizing processor synthesizes the normal image and the fluorescent image into a synthesized image. A color signal of the synthesized image is the same as a color signal of the normal image. A luminance signal or the synthesized image is obtained by mixing a luminance signal of the normal image and a luminance signal of the fluorescent image in a predetermined proportion.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system comprises a video-scope, an imaging device, and a black balance processor. The imaging device, which is provided on the video-scope, is exposed at a normal shutter speed so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an optical image that is formed thereon. The black balance processor generates a black balance value for adjusting the black balance of the image signal, based on a black image signal corresponding to a black image. The black image signal is generated by exposing the imaging device at a high shutter speed that is faster than the normal shutter speed.

Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising an image signal receiver, a calculator, an amplifier, and a noise reduction unit, is provided. The image signal receiver receives a raw image signal. The image signal is generated by an imaging device when the imaging device captures an optical image of an object. The calculator calculates a first gain. The first gain is used for amplifying the raw image signal. The amplifier amplifies the raw image signal based on the first gain, and then the amplified image signal is generated. The noise reduction unit reduces noise included in the amplified image signal according to the first gain, and then the noise-reduced signal is generated.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention has a video-scope that has an image sensor, and a light source unit that is capable of selectively emitting normal-light and excitation-light. The electronic endoscope system further has a signal processor and a display processor. The signal processor generates normal color image signals, which corresponds to the normal color image, on the basis of the normal image-pixel signals. Similarly, the signal processor generates auto-fluorescent image signals corresponding to the auto-fluorescent image on the basis of the auto-fluorescent image-pixel signals, and generates diagnosis color image signals corresponding to the diagnosis color image on the basis of the normal color image signals and the auto-fluorescent image signals.

Abstract: An image data processor comprising an image signal receiver, a histogram generator, a gain calculator, an amplifier, and a signal feeder, is provided. The image signal receiver receives an autofluorescence image signal. The autofluorescence image signal is generated by an imaging device when the imaging device captures an autofluorescence image. The histogram generator generates a histogram of luminance in the autofluorescence image based on the autofluorescence image signal. The gain calculator calculates a gain based on the histogram and a predetermined luminance value. The amplifier amplifies the autofluorescence image signal by the gain. And then the amplifier generates an amplified autofluorescence image signal. The signal feeder outputs the amplified autofluorescence image signal to a monitor. The monitor displays an amplified autofluorescence image.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an electronic endoscope including an insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity, an imaging device that receives an optical image and outputs image signals corresponding to the optical image, an image forming system that forms the optical image, an operating pant provided at a rear anchor of the insertion part, and a plurality of operable members arranged at the operating part, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals outputted from the imaging device, the image processing system obtaining a normal image when the living tissues are illuminated with the white light and a fluorescence image when the living tissues are irradiated with the excitation light, and a control system that controls the whole of the electronic endoscope system.

Abstract: An image data processor comprising an image signal receiver, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit, is provided. The image signal receiver receives a reference image signal and a laser image signal. The reference image and the laser image correspond to an optical image of an object respectively illuminated by a reference light and a laser light. An average wavelength of the laser light is shorter than that of the reference light. The first processing unit generates reference edge data and a laser edge data based on the reference image signal and the laser image signal respectively. The reference edge data and the laser edge data corresponds to a reference edge image and a laser edge image respectively. The reference edge image and the laser edge image show only edges in the reference image and the laser image respectively. The second processing unit detects a first partial edge based on the reference edge data and the laser edge data.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system used for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes a single imaging device configured to output image signals corresponding to a received optical image, an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an image forming system configured to form the optical image of the living tissues illuminated with each of the white light and the excitation light on the imaging device, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals outputted from the single imaging device, the image processing system transforming the received image signals into signals which are allowed to be displayed on the display device, and a control system configured to control the whole of the electronic endoscope system, the image processing system employs image signals, obtained from an image, outputted from the single imaging device as a first field of image signals of an interlaced image, an