Abstract: Improvements are achieved in the performance and reliability of a semiconductor device. In a trench in an n-type semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode for a trench-gate field effect transistor is formed via a gate insulating film. A p-type semiconductor region for channel formation is formed so as to be adjacent to the trench. Over the p-type semiconductor region, a source n+-type semiconductor region is formed so as to be adjacent to the trench. In the semiconductor substrate, a first p-type column is formed under the p-type semiconductor region. Under the first p-type column, a second p-type column is formed. The first p-type column is internally included in the second p-type column in plan view. The two-dimensional size of the second p-type column is larger than the two-dimensional size of the first p-type column.

Abstract: Improvements are achieved in the performance and reliability of a semiconductor device. In a trench in an n-type semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode for a trench-gate field effect transistor is formed via a gate insulating film. A p-type semiconductor region for channel formation is formed so as to be adjacent to the trench. Over the p-type semiconductor region, a source n+-type semiconductor region is formed so as to be adjacent to the trench. In the semiconductor substrate, a first p-type column is formed under the p-type semiconductor region. Under the first p-type column, a second p-type column is formed. The first p-type column is internally included in the second p-type column in plan view. The two-dimensional size of the second p-type column is larger than the two-dimensional size of the first p-type column.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that reduces fixed pattern noise by performing dark current subtraction is described. The electronic apparatus includes: an image sensor; a photographing control unit that photographs a plurality of images; a vibration reduction control unit that performs control to shift a coordinate position of a photographing region in which a subject image is formed by a predetermined pixel count within a photographable region of the image sensor whenever each of a plurality of images is photographed; a coordinate transformation unit that performs coordinate transformation such that a coordinate position of a plurality of photographed images matches a coordinate position of any photographed image; and an image combining unit that combines a plurality of coordinate-transformed photographed images.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that reduces fixed pattern noise by performing dark current subtraction is described. The electronic apparatus includes: an image sensor; a photographing control unit that photographs a plurality of images; a vibration reduction control unit that performs control to shift a coordinate position of a photographing region in which a subject image is formed by a predetermined pixel count within a photographable region of the image sensor whenever each of a plurality of images is photographed; a coordinate transformation unit that performs coordinate transformation such that a coordinate position of a plurality of photographed images matches a coordinate position of any photographed image; and an image combining unit that combines a plurality of coordinate-transformed photographed images.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer program product, photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus, the method including obtaining sound information; calculating a shooting frequency based on the obtained sound information; and controlling a shutter of an imaging device to obtain image data according to the calculated shooting frequency.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method for archiving a plurality of images as a single file, and a recording medium having a computer program for executing the method. The photographing apparatus and method employ a feature subject extracting unit for determining one of the plurality of images as a main image and extracting a feature subject from the main image, an image selecting unit for selecting an image including the feature subject, and an image archiving unit for archiving the main image and the image selected by the image selecting unit.

Abstract: Provided are an imaging device, imaging system, and image method for imaging and displaying a stereoscopic image without degrading the three-dimensional image. A control operation of the imaging device synchronizes driving timing of the shutter unit with display conversion timing of the display device based on the display conversion signal received by a receiver, and separately images the left eye image and the right eye image in the imaging unit.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer program product, photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus, the method including obtaining sound information; calculating a shooting frequency based on the obtained sound information; and controlling a shutter of an imaging device to obtain image data according to the calculated shooting frequency.

Abstract: An electronic device for allowing a viewer to view still pictures according to the intention of a photographer or drafter of the still pictures when the still pictures are successively displayed, a display method thereof, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method. The electronic device includes an estimation unit that estimates a level of adaptation of a viewer caused by a first picture displayed and a picture adjustment unit adjusting a second picture based on the estimated level of adaptation when the second picture is displayed subsequently to the first picture.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method for archiving a plurality of images as a single file, and a recording medium having a computer program for executing the method. The photographing apparatus and method employ a feature subject extracting unit for determining one of the plurality of images as a main image and extracting a feature subject from the main image, an image selecting unit for selecting an image including the feature subject, and an image archiving unit for archiving the main image and the image selected by the image selecting unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for performing exposure adjustment based on the luminance of screen images through photoelectric conversion includes a structure for providing a signal to be applied to a screen for viewing images, a structure defining a region satisfying a predetermined condition based on where the luminance is excluded from a base region predetermined in the screen signal, and a structure for automatically providing exposure adjustment on the signal based on the luminance of a remaining region in the base region.

Abstract: An electronic device for allowing a viewer to view still pictures according to the intention of a photographer or drafter of the still pictures when the still pictures are successively displayed, a display method thereof, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method. The electronic device includes an estimation unit that estimates a level of adaptation of a viewer caused by a first picture displayed and a picture adjustment unit adjusting a second picture based on the estimated level of adaptation when the second picture is displayed subsequently to the first picture.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for performing exposure adjustment based on the luminance of screen images through photoelectric conversion includes a structure for providing a signal to be applied to a screen for viewing images, a structure defining a region satisfying a predetermined condition based on where the luminance is excluded from a base region predetermined in the screen signal, and a structure for automatically providing exposure adjustment on the signal based on the luminance of a remaining region in the base region.

Abstract: A digital camera and a portable digital device include communication interfaces, respectively, so that a digital image signal of the digital camera is displayed on a display device of the portable digital device, and a user input signal of the portable digital device is processed by the digital camera.

Abstract: At the time of preliminary photographing for exposure adjustment, an image pickup screen is divided into n blocks S100 and color decision processing is executed for sorting each block into a block belonging to monochromatic light and a block belonging to light other than the monochromatic light S102. A reference luminance value LSi (LSi=(Ri+2Gi+Bi)/4) is set for the block belonging to the light other than the monochromatic light as a luminance value Li of the block S104 and a higher value than the reference luminance value LSi is set for the block belonging to the monochromatic light as the luminance value Li S106. Then, exposure is adjusted so that an average E of this luminance value Li can match a target luminance value X (reflectivity of 18%) S108, S110. Accordingly, the monochromatic light can be prevented from being displayed more brightly than needed, and, as a result, photographing is enabled with a more appropriate exposure.

Abstract: At the time of preliminary photographing for exposure adjustment, an image pickup screen is divided into n blocks S100 and color decision processing is executed for sorting each block into a block belonging to monochromatic light and a block belonging to light other than the monochromatic light S102. A reference luminance value LSi (LSi=(Ri+2Gi +Bi)/4) is set for the block belonging to the light other than the monochromatic light as a luminance value Li of the block S104 and a higher value than the reference luminance value LSi is set for the block belonging to the monochromatic light as the luminance value Li S106. Then, exposure is adjusted so that an average E of this luminance value Li can match a target luminance value X (reflectivity of 18%) S108, S110. Accordingly, the monochromatic light can be prevented from being displayed more brightly than needed, and, as a result, photographing is enabled with a more appropriate exposure.

Abstract: A passive safety belt device for a vehicle comprising a safety belt connected between the door of the vehicle and a retractor provided on the floor of the vehicle at a central portion and a belt guiding member pivotally mounted at a central portion. The belt guiding member is rotatable between a backward fastening position near the passenger's waist and a forward releasing position away from the waist. The belt guiding member is connected to the door by a cable and is biased in the backward direction by a spring. The cable passes through a knee pad provided under an instrument panel and projects from an end portion of said knee pad adjacent to an inner panel of said door and being connected to the inner panel at an outer end of the cable. Thus, when the door is opened, the belt guiding member is moved to the forward releasing position so that the safety belt may be removed from the passenger's waist.

Abstract: A passive safety belt device for a vehicle having sash-less doors and a pair of seats, comprising a retractor provided on the floor of the vehicle between the seats, a belt supporting member upwardly extending from a rear portion of the sash-less door, and a safety belt connected between the retractor and the belt supporting member. The outer end portion of the safety belt is hardened in a predetermined range by a spring steel plate enclosed by the safety belt at an outer end portion of the latter and secured to the belt supporting member at an end thereof, the belt supporting member being a hollow body comprising a superimposed pair of plates, bolts securing the hollow body to an inside panel of the door, and the spring steel plate and the superimposed pair of plates being secured with each other so as to maintain the end portion in an upright position.

Abstract: A safety belt device for a vehicle having without glass frames doors and a pair of seats, comprising a retractor provided on the floor between the seats, a door pole upwardly extending from a rear portion of the door to a connecting portion higher than an occupant's shoulder, and a safety belt connected between the retractor and a seat belt connecting portion of the door pole. When the door is closed, the safety belt extends diagonally across the occupant's body, and when the door is opened, the safety belt is positioned to permit the occupant to get in and out of the vehicle.