Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a sensor including at least one element, a plurality of electrically conductive wires each of which has a connection portion at which electrical connection is made between the electrically conductive wire and the sensor so that a signal used in the sensor can flow through the electrically conductive wire, and an insulative member configured to cover at least one of the electrically conductive wires at a place nearer to a tip than the connection portion in the at least one electrically conductive wire. The insulative member having an electrical insulating property.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method for easily determining an integral interval when detecting inclinations of a subject in pixel units and reconstructing a shape of said subject by integrating said detected inclinations. This method photographs the subject with a left camera and a right camera, and obtains gradational images from the respective positions. This method obtains in pixel units parallaxes for the subject between these positions. This method determines as one integral interval each domain in which pixels showing the same parallax appear in succession.

Abstract: A method for making it possible to simply reduce accumulation of integral errors when obtaining a directing measured result by integrating measured values in a measured value group. Integrated values Ye(i) up to each measured value are obtained by means of the partial integrating method by using the even-numberth measured values in a measured value group as the respective reference values, respectively. Integrated values Yo(i) up to each measured value are obtained by means of the partial integrating method by using the odd-numberth measured values in a measured value group as the respective reference values, respectively. An average value of Ye(i) and one of the odd-numberth-reference integrated values Yo(i-1), Yo(i), and Yo(i+1) is taken as a final integrated result Y(i) up to each measured value, where i is a place number in a row of measured values.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for accurately detecting and reconstructing the shape of a curved surface of a subject. The apparatus is provided with an image detecting part for photographing a subject from two different positions and detecting gradational images seen from the respective positions, and a curved surface reconstructing part for computing a luminance ratio of pixels corresponding to each other in the different gradational images, computing an inclination of a surface of the subject on the basis of this luminance ratio, and reconstructing a curved surface of the subject. The method obtains an inclination of the surface of the first observed part by obtaining inclinations of the surfaces of the second and the third observed part which are adjacent to the first observed part and taking an average of these first and second inclinations.

Abstract: In an SPS charge transfer device comprising a parallel register having a plurality of signal transfer channels for transferring signal charges, and a first and a second serial registers, a plurality of noise transfer channels for transferring noise charges due to a dark current are formed adjacent to and parallel with the signal transfer channels. The signal charges are transferred through the signal transfer channels toward the second serial register, and then through the second serial register, while the noise charges are transferred through the noise transfer channels toward the first serial register, and then through the first serial register. The signal charges at the output end of the second serial register and the noise charges at the output end of the first serial register are used to produce signals representing the signal charges which are originally introduced into the parallel register, i.e., the signal charges from which the noise components due to the dark current have been removed.

Abstract: A CCD device includes a substrate, a gate insulating film formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of charge transfer gate electrodes formed on the gate insulating film and divided for use into n groups of electrodes, a plurality of signal lines for electrically connecting a plurality of the transfer gate electrodes in each group of transfer gate electrodes for each integer number of electrodes, a plurality of clock signal lines to which a clock signal is applied, and a protective circuit for protecting a plurality of the gate insulating film against static electricity between the clock signal line and the signal line connected to the gate electrode. The CCD device can set a higher electrostatic withstanding voltage of the gate insulating film without reducing its clock operating speed.