Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a change determination unit configured to determine, using data of a plurality of images captured continuously, whether a change in direction of capturing the plurality of images occurs; a change amount calculation unit configured to calculate a change amount of a position of an object shown in the plurality of images, depending on whether the change in direction of capturing the plurality of images occurs; and an auxiliary image creation unit configured to create data of an auxiliary image for displaying information on the object, the information being related to the change amount.

Abstract: An image playback apparatus includes: a moving image processing unit configured to generate playback-oriented moving image data from moving image data as a playback target, among moving image data recorded on a recording device; a display controller configured to play back, on a display device, the playback-oriented moving image data generated by the moving image processing unit; a release instruction input unit configured to receive input of a release signal during playback of the playback-oriented moving image data; a still image generation unit configured to generate, from the moving image data, still image data that correspond to a playback image being played back on the display device at a time of input of the release signal; and a recording controller configured to record, on the recording device, the still image data generated by the still image generation unit, in association with the moving image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes a first image signal including pixel signals, the first image signal having a picture portion in which a subject is shown and having a blank portion surrounding the picture portion. The apparatus includes: a blank detection unit configured to set similar frames different in size from one another within a display area of a screen representing the first image signal, in a stepwise manner from an outer periphery, and to detect the blank portion based on whether or not a part of the pixel signals belonging to a region outside each of the similar frames has the uniform color or brightness; a region-of-interest setting unit configured to set an initial region-of-interest corresponding to the picture portion in the first image signal, based on the blank portion; and a region-of-interest image generation unit configured to generate a region-of-interest image signal representing the initial region-of-interest.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup device configured to pick up an optical image formed by an objective optical system and generate an image; a cut-out range setting portion configured to set a cut-out area so that a center comes close to a field-of-view center as a zoom magnification set by an electronic zoom setting portion increases; and a zoom processing portion configured to cut out the set cut-out area from the image, perform enlargement or reduction corresponding to the zoom magnification and generate a zoomed image.

Abstract: A display control device comprises an image acquiring unit which acquires observation image data, an image recording unit which records recorded image data, an image synthesizing unit which generates synthesized image data based on the observation image data and the recorded image data, a first selector, a second selector, and a selector interlock controller. The first selector outputs one of the observation image data and the synthesized image data to a first display device as first selected data. The second selector outputs one of the first selected data and the recorded image data to a second display device as second selected data. The selector interlock controller interlocks and controls the first selector 122 and the second selector 124.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first input section configured to receive image data including images in a forward field of view and a lateral field of view; an enhancement processing section configured to enhance edges of images corresponding to the image data received; and a boundary correction section provided on a downstream side of the enhancement processing section and configured to perform a correction process non-commutative with an edge enhancement process, the correction process being performed on a boundary region between a forward field of view and a lateral field of view using the image data subjected to edge enhancement.

Abstract: A control device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires, from a first endoscope connected to the control device, identification information that contains switch information indicating the number of switches of the first endoscope and contains function information indicating a function that is executable or not executable by the first endoscope; a recording unit that records setting information that assigns predetermined functions to be executed corresponding to signals respectively input from switches of a second endoscope; a setting unit that generates function setting information that assigns and sets functions to be executed corresponding to signals respectively input from the switches of the first endoscope, based on the identification information and the setting information; and an executing unit that, when one of the signals is input from a switch, executes one of the functions assigned to the switch which inputs the one of the signals according to the function setting information.

Abstract: A video processor for an endoscope includes an image memory, an image processing unit, a display control unit and a recording unit. The image memory stores, as a sample image, an endoscope image which a user previously acquired. The image processing unit performs the image processing for changing an image quality of the sample image in accordance with a selection value selected by a user and produces a processed image. The display control unit causes a display unit to display the processed image. The recording unit records, as a setting value, a value relating to the selection value determined by the user. The image processing unit performs the image processing, based on the setting value, for the endoscope image.

Abstract: A video output apparatus includes: a video signal processing section that generates a first video signal having a first resolution; a first text superimposing section that superimposes first textual information on the first video signal; a first output section that outputs the first video signal with the first textual information superimposed; a reduction processing section that receives the first video signal and generates a second video signal having a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; a second text superimposing section that superimposes second textual information on the second video signal; and a second output section that outputs the second video signal with the second textual information superimposed.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an operation portion including a grasping portion configured to be grasped by a user and having a first longitudinal axis; an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject, the insertion portion having a second longitudinal axis that has a predetermined acute angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis and extending from the operation portion at a position on a more distal end side with respect to a treatment instrument insertion portion provided at the grasping portion; and a cable including, at an extension end thereof, a connector portion configured to be detachably connected with an external device, the cable having a third longitudinal axis on an extended line of the first longitudinal axis and extending from a distal end side of the operation portion.

Abstract: An endoscope system including: an optical endoscope including a fiber bundle that transmits an optical image; a camera head including an image pickup device; and a video processor including a moiré elimination section, a control section and an enhancement processing section, in which the moiré elimination section uses a processing circuit of the enhancement processing section as a processing circuit of itself by replacing a filter coefficient, the camera head includes a first identifier, the video processor includes a detection section that detects the first identifier, and the control section causes the moiré elimination section to perform moiré elimination processing corresponding to a detection result of the first identifier.

Abstract: An endoscope system including: an optical endoscope including a fiber bundle that transmits an optical image; a camera head including an image pickup device; and a video processor including a moiré elimination section, a control section and an enhancement processing section, in which the moiré elimination section uses a processing circuit of the enhancement processing section as a processing circuit of itself by replacing a filter coefficient, the camera head includes a first identifier, the video processor includes a detection section that detects the first identifier, and the control section causes the moiré elimination section to perform moiré elimination processing corresponding to a detection result of the first identifier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a charging method for one or more non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries by n steps of constant-current charging processes, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The n steps include: (1) charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k) until a charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k), where k is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or smaller than n?1; and (2) when the charge voltage per one battery reaches the voltage Ec(k), charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k+1) smaller than the current Ic(k) until the charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k+1) higher than the voltage Ec(k), in which (3) the currents Ic(k) and Ic(k+1) are set according to frequency of use or number of charge and discharge cycles of the secondary batteries.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, which has high energy density and excellent cycle characteristics. A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries of the present invention is represented by general formula LiNixCoyM(1-x-y)O2(wherein M represents at least one element selected from among metal elements, 0.3?x<1.0 and 0<y?0.5) and is configured of particles, each of which is an aggregate of crystallites. Each particle has a compressive breaking strength of from 200 MPa to 500 MPa (inclusive), and the crystallite diameter in the vector direction of the particle is from 100 nm to 300 nm (inclusive).

Abstract: An advantage of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery causing hardly any particle breakage even in the case of an enhanced packing density of a positive electrode active material, and thereby being capable of accomplishing good cycle characteristics. A positive electrode 12 constituting a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 10 of the present invention comprises a positive electrode current collector 30 having a Young's modulus of 6.5 N/mm2 or less, and a positive electrode active material layer 31 formed on the current collector and comprising a positive electrode active material particle 32 of which a single particle has a compression breakage strength of 200 MPa or more.

Abstract: In the present method, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged by repeating n+1 times a constant current charge and a subsequent constant voltage charge, where n is an integer of 1 or more. (1) An nth charge comprises charging the secondary battery at a current Ic(n) to a voltage Ec(n), and subsequently charging the secondary battery at the voltage Ec(n) until the current decreases from Ic(n) to Ic(n+1). (2) An (n+1)th charge comprises charging the secondary battery at the current Ic(n+1) to a voltage Ec(n+1), and subsequently charging the secondary battery at the voltage Ec(n+1) until the current decreases from Ic(n+1) to Ic(n+2). Consequently, the charge time of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery can be shortened while deterioration of the battery can be suppressed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a charging method for one or more non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries by n steps of constant-current charging processes, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The n steps include: (1) charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k) until a charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k), where k is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or smaller than n?1; and (2) when the charge voltage per one battery reaches the voltage Ec(k), charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k+1) smaller than the current Ic(k) until the charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k+1) higher than the voltage Ec(k), in which (3) the currents Ic(k) and Ic(k+1) are set according to frequency of use or number of charge and discharge cycles of the secondary batteries.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes a first image memory that stores input moving images, a noise reduction section that outputs noise-free images, an image switching section that selects and outputs one image of the input moving image and the output of the first image memory, and a freeze control section that reads, images corresponding to two or more screens including the screen with the smallest amount of blur of each screen of the input moving image based on a separated luminance signal and necessary to remove noise from the first image memory, causes the image switching section to output the images, and causes noise-free images using the images corresponding to the two or more screens including the screen with the smallest amount of blur to be consecutively outputted.