Abstract: A vertical internal combustion engine E has a crankshaft 18 enclosed in a crank chamber 20, a belt-drive transmission mechanism 50 held in a belt chamber 63 and including a rubber belt 53 for transmitting power of the crankshaft 18 to a camshaft 24 in a valve train 23, and a transmission case 60 defining the belt chamber 63. The belt chamber 63 communicates with the crank chamber 20 by way of vent holes 70 and 71, the transmission case 60 is provided with an internal wall Wi disposed between the vent holes 70 and 71 and the belt 53 in the belt chamber 63 to deflect the flow of an oil-containing gas flowing from the crank chamber 20 into the belt chamber 63 such that the oil-containing gas flows in directions deviating from a direction toward the belt 53. The belt 53 is lubricated with oil in the oil-containing gas. The belt 53 is prevented from being excessively exposed to the oil-containing gas from the crank chamber 20 to extend its life.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of operation circuits. The operation circuit operates pixel signals read out from a group of pixels included in a readout area to generate a pixel signal in the thinning readout mode. A plurality of column selecting switches are arranged between the output terminals of the plurality of operation circuits and a plurality of output channels. A control circuit controls the plurality of column selecting switches such that pixel signals the number of which is equal to the number of the plurality of output channels are output to the plurality of output channels in parallel in the thinning readout mode. The circuit arrangements, each included in the corresponding one of the plurality of operation circuits and each viewed from the corresponding one of the column selecting switches used in the thinning readout mode, are equivalent to each other.

Abstract: A vertical internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft enclosed in a crank chamber, a belt-drive transmission mechanism held in a belt chamber and including a rubber belt for transmitting power of the crankshaft to a camshaft included in a valve train, and a transmission case defining the belt chamber. The transmission case has a lower case between the crank chamber and the belt chamber. The belt has a part extending over the crank chamber, and the lower case is disposed to screen the part of the belt from the crank chamber. The belt is lubricated by oil in oil-containing gas from the crank chamber. Thus the oil containing gas is prevented from excessively contacting the rubber belt, so that the life of the belt is extended.

Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, wherein each of the unit cells has a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor and a floating diffusion region, a light shielding portion arranged on an upper portion of the floating diffusion region is included. The respective light shielding portions are separated from one another, and are in a floating state without being electrically connected to the floating diffusion region.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; a plurality of capacitor which receive signals from the plurality of pixels at first terminals; a plurality of clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitor into a predetermined electric potential; a plurality of first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a plurality of second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a first common output line to which the signals from the plurality of first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plurality of second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided that is capable of obtaining a correction value effective for horizontal noise correction, while suppressing increase in chip area of an image pickup device. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device (101) for converting an object image into electrical signals, and a correcting section for correcting a picked-up image. The image pickup device includes a pixel signal readout circuit (204) for reading out pixel signals from a pixel region on a line-by-line basis via vertical signal lines, a dummy signal readout circuit (209) for reading out dummy signals, and a horizontal transfer circuit (205) for transferring outputs of the pixel signal readout circuit and the dummy signal readout circuit. The correcting section corrects the outputs of the pixel signal readout circuit on a line-by-line basis using the outputs of the dummy signal readout circuit.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first block line through which an optical signal is output and a second block line through which a noise signal superimposed on the optical signal is output. The photoelectric conversion apparatus also includes a switch used to control a connection between the first block line and the second block line.

Abstract: A vertical internal combustion engine E is incorporated into an outboard motor or the like. The vertical internal combustion engine E includes a crankshaft 18 enclosed in a crank chamber 20, and a belt-drive transmission mechanism 50 including a rubber belt 53 for transmitting power of the crankshaft 18 to a camshaft 24, and held in a belt chamber 63. The belt chamber 63 is isolated from the crank chamber 20 by a lower case 61 of a transmission case 60 holding the belt-drive transmission mechanism 50 therein such that the flow of an oil-containing gas from the crank chamber 20 deviates from a direction toward the belt 53. The belt 53 is lubricated with oil injected concentratedly into the belt chamber 63 through jet nozzles 80 disposed in the belt chamber 63. Thus the excessive exposure of the belt 53 to the oil-containing gas from the crank chamber can be avoided, the life of the belt can be extended and the belt is lubricated properly.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device includes a light receiving area, a plurality of layers, and a light collecting unit disposed above the plurality of layers. The plurality of layers includes first and second layers, such that a pattern of the first layer is formed by a plurality of exposure shots each illuminating a different region, and a pattern of the second layer is formed by a one shot exposure. The patterns of the first and second layers have apertures corresponding to the light receiving area, and the light collecting unit and the aperture of the pattern of the second layer define a light path through which light is incident in the light receiving area, and the pattern of the first layer is disposed outside of the light path.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel array portion, signal processing portion, common readout circuit, and common signal line. The signal processing portion includes the first power line and the second power line which is formed on the opposite side to the first power line when viewed from the common signal line. The common signal line has a portion formed along the signal processing portion to transfer, to the common readout circuit, a signal supplied from the signal processing portion. A cross connection line which crosses the portion of the common signal line along the signal processing portion connects the first and second power lines.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; a plurality of capacitor which receive signals from the plurality of pixels at first terminals; a plurality of clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitor into a predetermined electric potential; a plurality of first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a plurality of second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a first common output line to which the signals from the plurality of first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plurality of second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first block line through which an optical signal is output and a second block line through which a noise signal superimposed on the optical signal is output. The photoelectric conversion apparatus also includes a switch used to control a connection between the fist block line and the second block line.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a first antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a second photoelectric conversion element. A total length of first photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element is shorter than a total length of second photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the second photoelectric conversion element. An area of the first antireflection coating film is larger than that of the second antireflection coating film.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel array, a first color filter, a second color filter, and a light shielding portion. The amount of electric charges generated in a first pixel after light of a first wavelength enters the first pixel is larger than that of electric charges generated in a second pixel after light of a second wavelength enters the second pixel. The light shielding portion defines the aperture regions of the first and second pixels so as to set the aperture area of the first pixel larger than that of the second pixel.

Abstract: The invention is to reduce a color mixing resulting from influences of adjacent pixels. The invention provides a solid-state image pickup apparatus including plural pixels each including a PN junction area constituting a photoelectric conversion area, a floating diffusion area for holding a charge outputted from the PN junction area, an amplifying transistor for amplifying the charge in the floating diffusion area, and a wiring for connecting at least the floating diffusion area, a gate electrode of the amplifying transistor and a resetting MOS transistor, and a signal output line for outputting signals from the amplifying transistors, the apparatus including shield lines between the wiring of one pixel or the floating diffusion area and the wiring of one pixel and the signal output line of another adjacent pixel.

Abstract: The invention is to reduce a color mixing resulting from influences of adjacent pixels. The invention provides a solid-state image pickup apparatus including plural pixels each including a PN junction area constituting a photoelectric conversion area, a floating diffusion area for holding a charge outputted from the PN junction area, an amplifying transistor for amplifying the charge in the floating diffusion area, and a wiring for connecting at least the floating diffusion area, a gate electrode of the amplifying transistor and a resetting MOS transistor, and a signal output line for outputting signals from the amplifying transistors, the apparatus including shield lines between the wiring of one pixel or the floating diffusion area and the wiring of one pixel and the signal output line of another adjacent pixel.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first block line through which an optical signal is output and a second block line through which a noise signal superimposed on the optical signal is output. The photoelectric conversion apparatus also includes a switch used to control a connection between the fist block line and the second block line.

Abstract: A solid state image pick-up device has shields for suppressing deterioration in a ratio of an output signal to output noises caused by crosstalks, suppressing deterioration in a ratio of the output signal to output noises caused by a coupling capacity, and suppressing deterioration in a ratio of the output signal to output noises caused by imbalance is provided. Shielding lines 301, 302, and 303 are arranged in a layer to which output lines 210 and 220 belong. Shielding lines 304, 305, and 306 are arranged over the shielding lines 301, 302, and 303, respectively. Further, shielding pins 307, 308, and 309 are arranged between the shielding lines 301 and 304, between the shielding lines 302 and 305, and between the shielding lines 303 and 306, respectively. No shielding line is arranged over output lines 210 and 220. A structure is made to be plane-symmetrical with respect to a plane including a center line of the shielding line 301 and a plane including a center line of the shielding line 304.

Abstract: A primary object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric conversion apparatus with less leak current in a floating diffusion region. In order to obtain the above object, a photoelectric conversion apparatus according to the present invention includes a photodiode for converting light into a signal charge, a first semiconductor region having a first conductivity type, a floating diffusion region formed from a second semiconductor region having a second conductivity type for converting the signal charge generated by the photodiode into a signal voltage, the second semiconductor region being formed in the first semiconductor region, and an electrode formed above the first semiconductor region through an insulating film and having an effect of increasing a concentration of majority carriers in the first semiconductor region, in which the electrode is not formed above a depletion region formed from the second semiconductor region.

Abstract: It is a principle object of the present invention to reduce a voltage drop of a common power supply wiring in a plurality of amplification circuits to suppress crosstalk generated in other signal output lines.