Abstract: A pixel shifting unit moves the relative position between the luminous flux entering an image pickup device and the device to a plurality of predetermined positions in a predetermined order. A control unit controls the device, and allows the image of a subject image formed by the luminous flux on the photoreception surface of the device when the relative position is in any of the plurality of predetermined positions. A combination unit combines the plurality of obtained images to generate a high-resolution image. A prediction unit predicts a shooting environment when the device hereafter shoots an image of the subject image on the basis of a change of at least two images. A setting control unit controls a setting of a shooting condition when the image of the subject image is shot on the basis of a result of the prediction of the shooting environment.

Abstract: A pixel shifting unit moves the relative position between the luminous flux entering an image pickup device and the device to a plurality of predetermined positions in a predetermined order. A control unit controls the device, and allows the image of a subject image formed by the luminous flux on the photoreception surface of the device when the relative position is in any of the plurality of predetermined positions. A combination unit combines the plurality of obtained images to generate a high-resolution image. A prediction unit predicts a shooting environment when the device hereafter shoots an image of the subject image on the basis of a change of at least two images. A setting control unit controls a setting of a shooting condition when the image of the subject image is shot on the basis of a result of the prediction of the shooting environment.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element for photoelectric conversion, a shutter for selectively creating a light-shielded state and non-light-shielded state for the image sensing element, a bright signal storage unit for storing a bright signal output from the image sensing element in the non-light-shielded state, a dark signal storage unit for storing a dark signal output from the image sensing element in the light-shielded state, an operation unit for subtracting the dark signal from the bright signal to obtain a signal with suppressed dark noise, and a control unit for controlling read of bright and dark signals from the image sensing element in accordance with the relationship between the exposure time of the image sensing element and the photographing time interval.

Abstract: A digital camera for an optical apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a solid-state imaging device which picks up an image of a target object, a solid-state imaging device cooling part configured to cool the solid-state imaging device, and a sealing part which includes a printed board for wiring for electric signals, and seals the solid-state imaging device and the solid-state imaging device cooling part.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for a microscope comprises light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving segments arranged two-dimensionally for receiving an observed image on the microscope, extracting means for extracting light receiving outputs in a predetermined level range from the light receiving outputs of the respective light receiving segments of the light receiving means, exposure calculating means for performing an exposure calculation based on an average value of the light receiving outputs extracted from the extracting means, exposure control means for performing exposure control of the light receiving means in accordance with an exposure time calculated by the exposure calculation means, and image acquiring means for acquiring a taken image corresponding to the observed image from the light receiving outputs of the light receiving segments after the exposure control.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microscopic image pickup apparatus to be attached to a microscope device to which a plurality of specular methods are applicable, the apparatus being configured to set conversion coefficients for use in conversion of a color image into a monochromatic image so as to adapt the coefficients to a selected specular method. In the present invention, since the conversion coefficients suitable for the selected specular method are set, monochromatic conversion coefficients suitable for the specular method can easily be set without performing any special image processing. As a result, it is possible to obtain the monochromatic image adapted to the specular method and having an excellent gray-scale characteristic.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image pickup apparatus for a microscope, comprising a photometry section for acquiring a photometry value corresponding to a brightness of an observed image, an exposure calculation section for calculating a reference exposure time based on the photometry value acquired by the photometry section, and an exposure control section for controlling exposure in accordance with the reference exposure time, the exposure control section comprising an exposure control section for display for controlling exposure, when the image is displayed in a display section, and an exposure control section for recording for controlling the exposure, when the image is recorded in a recording section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present invention is an imaging apparatus for capturing an observed image by a microscope apparatus, includes: an imaging device for detecting observation light formed by an optical system for image forming; a display unit for displaying an image of a sample based on observation light detected by the imaging device; and a control unit for controlling a shading unit corresponding to an operation mode. With the configuration, by performing control by appropriately opening and closing a shutter of the microscope apparatus depending on the operation mode of the imaging apparatus, an imaging apparatus capable of realizing comfortable observation and protecting against damage to a sample such as fading, etc. during observation, an illuminating light control method used by the imaging apparatus, and a illuminating light control program can be successfully provided.

Abstract: A microscope system provided by the present invention in which an electronic camera is used to pick up an observation image by a microscope, comprising a controlling section for setting an image pickup operation of an image pickup element in the electronic camera to an optimum state in accordance with a state of at least one of an optical system combination for a projection magnification of at least an objective lens and a photo eyepiece on a microscope side, an observation method, and lighting conditions.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element for photoelectric conversion, a shutter for selectively creating a light-shielded state and non-light-shielded state for the image sensing element, a bright signal storage unit for storing a bright signal output from the image sensing element in the non-light-shielded state, a dark signal storage unit for storing a dark signal output from the image sensing element in the light-shielded state, an operation unit for subtracting the dark signal from the bright signal to obtain a signal with suppressed dark noise, and a control unit for controlling read of bright and dark signals from the image sensing element in accordance with the relationship between the exposure time of the image sensing element and the photographing time interval.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus for a microscope of this invention includes an image sensing unit for sensing an observation image obtained by a microscope and obtaining the observation image, a microscopy technique determination unit for detecting a microscopy technique in the microscope, a chromaticity determination unit for determining chromaticity of the observation image on the basis of the microscopy technique detected by said microscopy technique determination unit, and determining a region where color balance is adjusted in the observation image, and a color balance adjustment unit for adjusting color balance in accordance with a color balance adjustment amount arbitrarily set for the region of the observation image determined by said chromaticity determination unit.

Abstract: An electronic camera for a microscope includes an imaging element for imaging an optical image split by an optical path split prism, a signal processing section for processing an imaging signal output from the imaging element, a memory section for recording image data based on the imaging signal processed by the signal processing section, an LCD monitor located near the eyepiece lens for displaying the image based on the imaging signal processed by the signal processing section, and a casing integrally containing all of the imaging element, the signal processing section, the memory section, and the LCD monitor.

Abstract: A digital camera for an optical apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a solid-state imaging device which picks up an image of a target object, a solid-state imaging device cooling part configured to cool the solid-state imaging device, and a sealing part which includes a printed board for wiring for electric signals, and seals the solid-state imaging device and the solid-state imaging device cooling part.

Abstract: A microscope system provided by the present invention in which an electronic camera is used to pick up an observation image by a microscope, comprising a controlling section for setting an image pickup operation of an image pickup element in the electronic camera to an optimum state in accordance with a state of at least one of an optical system combination for a projection magnification of at least an objective lens and a photo eyepiece on a microscope side, an observation method, and lighting conditions.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image pickup apparatus for a microscope, comprising a photometry section for acquiring a photometry value corresponding to a brightness of an observed image, an exposure calculation section for calculating a reference exposure time based on the photometry value acquired by the photometry section, and an exposure control section for controlling exposure in accordance with the reference exposure time, the exposure control section comprising an exposure control section for display for controlling exposure, when the image is displayed in a display section, and an exposure control section for recording for controlling the exposure, when the image is recorded in a recording section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for a microscope comprises light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving segments arranged two-dimensionally for receiving an observed image on the microscope, extracting means for extracting light receiving outputs in a predetermined level range from the light receiving outputs of the respective light receiving segments of the light receiving means, exposure calculating means for performing an exposure calculation based on an average value of the light receiving outputs extracted from the extracting means, exposure control means for performing exposure control of the light receiving means in accordance with an exposure time calculated by the exposure calculation means, and image acquiring means for acquiring a taken image corresponding to the observed image from the light receiving outputs of the light receiving segments after the exposure control.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera for a microscope, connected to the microscope including at least one port for outputting an image from an objective lens, for picking up an image outputted from the port, the camera comprising an image pickup element for picking up the image outputted from the port, a display direction controlling section for converting a display direction of the image picked up by the image pickup element to a predetermined display direction, a display direction setting section for setting the predetermined display direction with respect to the display direction controlling section, and a display section for displaying an image having the display direction converted by the display direction controlling section.

Abstract: An electronic camera provided for the microscope comprises an imaging element for imaging an optical image split by an optical path split prism, a signal processing section for processing an imaging signal output from the imaging element, a memory section for recording image data based on the imaging signal processed by the signal processing section, an LCD monitor located near the eyepiece lens, for displaying the image based on the imaging signal processed by the signal processing section, and a casing integrally containing all of the imaging element, the signal processing section, the memory section, and the LCD monitor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: a spatial filtering section storing coefficients arranged in i rows and j columns, for receiving pixel data items representing the input image and arranged in i rows and j columns, and for multiplying each pixel data item by a corresponding coefficient; a coefficient memory having groups of coefficient registers for storing the coefficients set in the spatial filtering section; a selection data generating section for generating coefficient-selecting data representing coefficients to be read from the coefficient registers of each group and for changing the coefficient-selecting data in accordance with the pixel data items which is to be input to the spatial filtering section; and a coefficient selecting section for receiving the coefficient-selecting data generated by the selecting data generating section, reading coefficients from the coefficient registers of each group in accordance with the coefficient-selecting data, and setting the coefficients in the spatial filt