Abstract: An endoscope comprising: an endoscope flexible portion that includes: a low-hardness varying portion which is located in a predetermined region extending from a distal end of the flexible portion, and has hardness varying from the lowest hardness in the flexible portion to a predetermined hardness higher than the lowest hardness, the hardness being the lowest hardness at the distal end of the flexible portion, the hardness being the predetermined hardness at a proximal end of the low-hardness varying portion; a hard portion which is located in a predetermined region extending from a proximal end of the flexible portion, and has the highest hardness in the flexible portion; and an intermediate-hardness varying portion which is located between the low-hardness varying portion and the hard portion, and has hardness gradually varying in a region extending from the proximal end of the low-hardness varying portion to a distal end of the hard portion.

Abstract: The endoscope includes: a hardness adjusting device which changes the flexibility of the flexible portion of an endoscope insertion unit; and a handling member that handles the hardness adjusting device. The handling member is positioned in a region in which the handling member can be operated with one hand of an operator holding the handheld operation unit of the endoscope, the region being located in an upper portion of the handheld operation unit. The contact spring is extended from the front end of the handheld operation unit to the upper portion of the handheld operation unit, the front end of the handheld operation unit continuing to the flexible portion.

Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided and has: three photoelectric conversion layers stacked above a semiconductor substrate 1, each detecting a different color; three signal charge accumulators in a semiconductor substrate for accumulating signal charges generated in each of the three photoelectric conversion layers: and a signal readout circuit in the semiconductor substrate for reading out signals corresponding to the signal charges accumulated in the signal charge accumulators. The three signal charge accumulators are arranged in a direction in the surface of the semiconductor substrate as a pixel and a plurality of the pixels are arranged in a square lattice pattern both in the direction and a direction perpendicular thereto. The three signal charge accumulators arranged in each pixel in an odd row are arranged such that an array of the signal charge accumulators in the first sub-row of each pixel has all of the three signal charge accumulators.

Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.

Abstract: A mounting board of a camera module of a mobile phone is screwed to an outer cover through cushions formed of rubber, sponge or the like. A solid state imaging device and an optical unit of the camera module are contained in an opening formed in the outer cover and do not contact the outer cover. The mounting board is connected to a main substrate through a flexible board. Accordingly, even if the mobile phone is dropped down, the camera module is prevented from breakage by the vibration or the shock applied to the mobile phone, because the vibration and the shock are not transmitted to the camera module directly.

Abstract: A method for driving a charge-transfer type solid-state image pick-up device, wherein the charge-transfer type solid-state image pick-up device comprises: high sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements for executing photoelectric conversion with relatively high sensitivity; low sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements for executing photoelectric conversion with relatively low sensitivity; and vertical transfer channels for transferring signal charges from said high sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements and said low sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements, the method comprising a charge transfer step of individually reading/transferring first signal charges from said high sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements and second signal charges from said low sensitivity photoelectric conversion elements onto said vertical transfer channels, without executing a high speed charge transfer operation for the vertical transfer channels after exposure of said solid-state image pick-up device.

Abstract: A mounting board has a thickness L2 being thicker than a thickness L1 of a solid state imaging device. In the mounting board, an attachment opening for containing the solid state imaging device is formed. In addition, a side surface of the solid state imaging device is a tapered surface having an inclination angle ?1, and an internal surface of the attachment opening is a tapered surface having an inclination angle ?2 larger than the inclination angle ?1. On the side surface of the solid state imaging device and the internal surface of the attachment opening respectively, contact terminals are provided for electrically connecting the solid state imaging device and the mounting board, when the contact terminals contact each other according to insertion of the solid state imaging device into the attachment opening.

Abstract: A CCD including primary photosensitive pixels that have a narrower dynamic range and secondary photosensitive pixels that have a wider dynamic range is used to obtain first image information from the primary photosensitive pixels and second image information from the secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure, then the first image information and the second image information are stored as two separate files having names associated with each other. A user can select through a predetermined user interface whether or not the second image information should be stored and a dynamic range for the second image information. The dynamic range information for the second image information is stored in the file of the first image information and/or the header of the file of the second image information.

Abstract: A zener diode is formed in a spacer, which adhered on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround an image sensor, by semiconductor process. A first contact terminal is connected to a CCD output terminal of the image sensor, and a second contact terminal is connected to a ZD ground terminal on the semiconductor substrate. When the ZD ground terminal is connected to ground, the zener diode is actuated. Capacitance components of the zener diode smoothes a waveform of the CCD output so as to prevent an unnecessary radiation noise from generating.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device is constituted of an image sensor chip, a circuit board, and an electromagnetic-wave absorber formed of copper. The image sensor chip is constituted of a bare chip, a spacer, and a cover glass. First contact terminals are formed on the bare chip, and second contact terminals and GND wires are formed on the circuit board. When manufacturing, the image sensor chip is mounted at a predetermined position on the circuit board, and the first contact terminals and the second contact terminals are connected with bonding wires. The electromagnetic-wave absorber is formed to cover the bonding wires, while its end contacts to the GND wires.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, an image capturing method, and a computer-readable medium storing program for correcting appropriately an image for each area independently. A digital camera for capturing a subject includes an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject using an electric flash flashing at a first flash intensity, and a second image of the subject using the electric flash flashing at a second flash intensity; a distance judging unit for judging distance to a first partial subject out of the subject based on the first image and the second image; and an image correction unit for correcting a first partial image of the first partial subject, which is a part of the first image based on the distance to the first partial subject judged by the distance judging unit.

Abstract: An electronic appliance has a data read/write section which reads information about a battery stored in a wireless tag provided in the battery, and a CPU which recognizes the read information about the battery and generates battery remaining energy warning information to be displayed on a display section according to the battery information. The battery remaining energy warning information according to the kind of the battery, the name of the manufacturer of the battery, etc., is generated and displayed to correctly and effectively inform a user of a remaining energy warning about the battery presently used.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided and has; three photoelectric conversion layers stacked above a semiconductor substrate 1, each detecting a different color; three signal charge accumulators in a semiconductor substrate for accumulating signal charges generated in each of the three photoelectric conversion layers: and a signal readout circuit in the semiconductor substrate for reading out signals corresponding to the signal charges accumulated in the signal charge accumulators. The three signal charge accumulators are arranged in a direction in the surface of the semiconductor substrate as a pixel and a plurality of the pixels are arranged in a square lattice pattern both in the direction and a direction perpendicular thereto. The three signal charge accumulators arranged in each pixel in an odd row are arranged such that an array of the signal charge accumulators in the first sub-row of each pixel has all of the three signal charge accumulators.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for accurately determining a position of a main subject on an image. The image capturing apparatus for capturing a subject includes an image pick-up unit for capturing a preliminary image and a final image; a main subject recognition unit for recognizing a main subject from the subject on the preliminary image; and a main subject position determination unit for determining a position of the main subject on the final image.

Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.

Abstract: An image processing system for properly correcting brightness of a subject area and a background area of a captured image. The image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, including: an image capturing instruction unit for generating a first instruction signal and a second instruction signal for instructing a capturing of the subject; and an image pick-up unit for capturing a first image of the subject in response to the first instruction signal, and a second image of the subject in response to the second instruction signal. The image processing system also includes an image processing apparatus, including: a backlight status detector for detecting backlight status based on the first image and the second image; and a correction unit for correcting the second image when the backlight status detector detects the backlight status.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for acquiring images having high dynamic range. The image capturing apparatus includes CCD consisting of a first photo detector for detecting light from central area of a subject, a second photo detector for detecting light from marginal area of the subject, a photometry sensor for measuring brightness of the central and the marginal areas of the subject, and a sensitivity control unit for controlling sensitivity of the first photo detector based on the brightness of the central area measured by the photometry sensor and controlling sensitivity of the second photo detector based on the brightness of the marginal area measured by the photometry sensor.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for acquiring images having high dynamic range. The image capturing apparatus includes CCD consisting of a first photo detector for detecting light from central area of a subject, a second photo detector for detecting light from marginal area of the subject, a photometry sensor for measuring brightness of the central and the marginal areas of the subject, and a sensitivity control unit for controlling sensitivity of the first photo detector based on the brightness of the central area measured by the photometry sensor and controlling sensitivity of the second photo detector based on the brightness of the marginal area measured by the photometry sensor.

Abstract: The level of smear charge stored in a CCD is calculated. If the smear level is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, exposure is performed using a mechanical shutter in order to suppress smear. If the smear level is less than the threshold value, exposure is controlled utilizing an electronic shutter. Power consumption owing to drive of the mechanical shutter can be reduced while occurrence of smear is suppressed.