Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a defect detection apparatus comprising an illuminating unit which irradiates an inspection object with illuminating light, and an image pickup unit which picks up an image of diffracted light from the inspection object to perform defect inspection of the inspection object from image data picked up by the image pickup unit, the apparatus further comprising a diffraction angle calculation unit to obtain the diffraction angle of the illuminating light with respect to the inspection object, which is optimum for picking up the image of the diffracted light, based on design information of the inspection object, and an illuminating setting unit which sets the angle of incidence of the illuminating unit to the diffraction angle calculated by the diffraction angle calculation unit.

Abstract: A holding mechanism 10 for holding an ink ribbon 20 includes a transparent shell 11 and a board 12. The transparent shell 11 of the ink ribbon 20 is provided with wind slack preventive portions 11a to 11d which prevent rotations of a feed bobbin 21 and reel bobbin 22, and wind meandering preventive portions 11e, 11f which bears down an axial end 23a of a film 23. The ink ribbon 20 can be stably held by the holding mechanism 10 during a transportation and a loading thereof. The transparent shell 11 is provided with support portions 11g, 11f which improve a stability when loading.

Abstract: An electronic camera for producing a composite image having a wide dynamic range and a high quality by composing first and second image signals obtained by picking-up an object successively two times with first and second stroboscopic flash exposures having a predetermined exposure amount ratio, including a CCD image sensing element, a stroboscopic flash device, and a flash light control circuit for controlling an excited emission of said stroboscopic flash device. At an end of the first exposure, the excited light emission from the stroboscopic flash device is temporarily stopped, but an excited condition of the stroboscopic flash device is kept. During this very short light emission interruption period, electrostatic charges stored in a light receiving section of the CCD image sensing element during the first exposure are transferred into a vertical transfer section. After that, the excited flash light is emitted again to perform the second exposure without recharging a trigger capacitance.

Abstract: A shape of endoscope detecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of a shape detection unit, a marker, a location information of marker acquisition unit, and a display control unit. The shape detection unit detects the shape of a portion of an insertion unit of an endoscope inserted into a subject, and produces graphic data expressing the shape thereof. The marker is placed near a position on the subject at which the endoscope is inserted. The location information of marker acquisition unit acquires the location information of the marker. The display control unit graphically indicates on a display device the shape of the portion inserted into a body cavity, which is detected by the shape detection unit, using as a reference the location information of the marker acquired by the location information of marker acquisition unit.

Abstract: An information input device according to the present invention is an information input device having a computer and an external input device, and inputting information to a predetermined device. The external input device comprises one or more operation switches, and a notifying unit discretely notifying the computer from when an operation switch becomes ON state until when the operation switch becomes OFF state. Additionally, the computer comprises a transmitting unit transmitting to the external input device a command(s) to instruct the predetermined device of a process(s) corresponding to the operation switch in correspondence with a notification. With this configuration, the predetermined device can immediately stop an action process even if a communication fault occurs during the action process.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can be disinfected or sterilized, and has a rechargeable secondary battery incorporated therein. A distal treatment section of the surgical instrument is ultrasonically oscillated using the secondary battery as a driving power source and used to perform surgery on a living tissue. Electromagnetic energy generated by an energy generation unit located outside the surgical instrument is received by a reception coil incorporated in the surgical instrument with the surgical instrument held in noncontact with the energy generation unit. The electromagnetic energy is then converted into charging power with which the secondary battery is recharged. Thus, the surgical instrument can be readily recharged while left clean.

Abstract: A focus detecting device includes a multi-beam producing member for emitting a plurality of light beams; a light-intercepting member for intercepting a part of the plurality of light beams; a beam splitting member having a surface for reflecting or transmitting an incident light beam; a light-condensing optical system for condensing the incident light beam; and a photodetector having at least two light-receiving sections. The multi-beam producing member and the light-intercepting member are placed on a first path of light, and the light-condensing optical system and the photodetector are placed on a second path of light. The beam splitting member is located at the intersection of the optical axis of the first path of light with the optical axis of the second path of light, and the photodetector is located at a position where the light beam is condensed by the light-condensing optical system.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first frame member supporting a first lens group, a second frame member supporting a second lens group and being capable of movable relative to the first frame member along an optical axis, a cam follower in the first frame member, a cam frame member having a cam groove engaged with the cam follower to permit the first frame member to be movable along the optical axis, a contact portion which is provided for the second frame member and can come into contact with the cam follower, and a pushing member pushing the second frame member in the direction the cam follower comes into contact with the contact portion. The pushing member pushes the second frame member and the contact portion comes into contact with the cam follower. Thus, the position of the second lens group with respect to the first lens group can be restricted.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus has a specific space setting unit which designates a specific space in vivo and a capsule which is inserted or swallowed in vivo. Further, the capsule medical apparatus has a recognizing unit which recognizes whether or not the capsule exists in the specific space set by the specific space setting unit and a control unit which controls a state of the capsule based on an output from the recognizing unit. Thus, the capsule reaches the specific space, then, the state of the capsule is controlled, and medical activity is performed.

Abstract: An optical imaging device includes a reference scanning unit offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and capable of scanning an object rapidly. An interference optical system can be realized inexpensively. In the optical imaging device, low coherent light passed through an optical coupler and another optical coupler, irradiated from an optical scanner probe, reflected from an observed point in a living tissue, returned to the optical coupler, propagated over a fourth SM optical fiber, and routed to another optical coupler shall be referred to as sample light. Light passed through an optical length variation optical system via the optical coupler and routed to the optical coupler shall be referred to as reference light. At this time, a difference between a delay time undergone by the sample light and a delay time undergone by the reference light is proportional to a difference between an optical length for the sample light and an optical length for the reference light.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical system for performing variable power by one lens group or integrated lens groups; a variable optical-characteristic element; a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element; and a picture element, wherein the apparatus is constructed by providing a predetermined resolution chart with a known distance, feeding drive information to the variable optical-characteristic element in accordance with the distance, photographing images of the resolution chart, and adjusting and fixing the position of the picture element so as to substantially maximize the contrast of the images.

Abstract: A table type display device capable of selecting the best projector according to user's budget and mode is provided for with easy exchange of the projector.

Abstract: An illumination control system comprises a rotation detecting section, an abnormality determination section, and a filter removing section. The rotation detecting section detects the rotational driving of a filter which is located on a path of illumination light emitted from a light source, which irradiates color light rays having different wavelengths to an object, and which is driven by a rotational driver. The abnormality determination section determines whether status of filter rotation is normal or abnormal based on the detected rotation of the filter by the rotation detecting section. The filter removing section removes the filter from the path of the illumination light when the abnormality determination section determines that the status of filter rotation is abnormal.

Abstract: In a pattern formation member adopted to a sectioning image observation apparatus which selectively irradiates a light from a light source to a sample, scans the sample, and acquires a light from the sample as a sectioning image, the pattern formation member comprises an irradiation section and a cutoff section, each of the irradiation section and the cutoff section is in a straight pattern, and these straight patterns are disposed alternatively.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided which includes a first frame member having on an inner surface thereof a female helicoid, and a cam groove which has substantially a same lead angle as a lead angle of the female helicoid and which is deeper than the female helicoid. A second frame member is placed inside the first frame member. The second frame member includes a male helicoid engaged with the female helicoid, and a cam follower engaged with the cam groove. The first frame member is rotatable relative to the second frame member, so as to cause forward or backward movement of the second frame member.

Abstract: With the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing system which uses a line sensor capable of achieving an optimal image fetching speed which is in accordance with the image processing capability (image processing speed) without distorting or defocusing the image. The image processing system of the present invention includes an illuminating unit, a line sensor, an optical system, a movement unit, an image processing unit and a control unit. The illuminating unit illuminates the surface of an object to be examined. The line sensor picks up the image of the surface of the object. The optical system forms the image of the surface of the object on the line sensor. The movement unit moves the illuminating unit, the line sensor and the optical system relative to the object. The image processing unit processes an image signal from the line sensor. The control unit at least controls the clock rate of the line sensor and the movement speed of the movement means.

Abstract: An image processing device according to the present invention comprises a combination average calculation processing unit for making a combination of two or more pixels from the multiple pixels having the same kind of the color component near the pixel of interest, and calculating the average for the color components of the two or more pixels making up the combination for multiple kinds of combinations of the pixels within the region near the pixel of interest, a color correlation estimation processing unit for estimating the color correlation which is a correlation between different kinds of color components near the pixel of interest, and a combination selection processing unit for selecting one of the multiple combination averages calculated by the aforementioned combination average calculation processing unit as the non-existent color component for the pixel of interest, based upon the color correlation estimated by the aforementioned color correlation estimation processing unit.

Abstract: An insertion unit of an endoscope in accordance with the present invention comprises, from the distal end thereof, a distal section, a bending section that is freely bendable, and a soft section having flexibility. The soft section comprises a small-diameter portion formed on the distal side thereof, a large-diameter portion, and a tapered portion linking the small-diameter portion and large-diameter portion. At least part of the tapered portion is disposed forward an endoscope portion separated 70 cm from the distal endoscope end. Assume that the insertion unit is inserted into the large intestine and the distal section is introduced the shortest distance into the appendix. In this case, the distance from an endoscope portion located at the anus to the distal end of the distal section is known to generally range from approximately 60 cm to approximately 70 cm. Therefore, when at least part of the tapered portion is disposed forward the endoscope portion separated 70 cm from .

Abstract: An optical unit includes a lens and a lens frame to support the lens. The lens frame includes a cylindrical portion and a U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion has a U-shaped cross-section. The cylindrical portion has an edge and an inner surface in contact with an outer surface of the lens. The U-shaped portion is formed integrally with the edge of the cylindrical portion and holds the lens. With the lens held, the U-shaped portion is adhesively bonded to the cylindrical portion and then is removed from the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and means for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the means for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction means to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading.