Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion that has a tip portion to be inserted into an examination target from a tip side of the tip portion. The endoscope includes a lens unit that is disposed at the tip portion. The endoscope includes an image sensor that is disposed on an opposite side to the tip side of tip portion with respect to the lens unit. The endoscope includes a linear conductor that has a tip disposed at the tip side with respect to the image sensor and has a proximal end which is extended from the tip through inside the insertion portion.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion that has a tip portion to be inserted into an examination target from a tip side of the tip portion. The endoscope includes a lens unit that is disposed at the tip portion. The endoscope includes an image sensor that is disposed on an opposite side to the tip side of tip portion with respect to the lens unit. The endoscope includes a linear conductor that has a tip disposed at the tip side with respect to the image sensor and has a proximal end which is extended from the tip through inside the insertion portion.

Abstract: An antenna section is housed in a housing space which is defined by a radome and a housing, and provided with a transmitting antenna that transmits radar waves composed of radio waves of a predetermined frequency and a receiving antenna that receives the radar waves. The radome has a transmission section that is a portion transmitting the radar waves and an attenuation section that is a portion attenuating the radar waves. The attenuation section includes a first attenuation layer formed of a material for attenuating the radar waves. The first attenuation layer has a thickness that is 2n?1 times (n is a natural number) of one-quarter of a wavelength of the radar waves in the first attenuation layer.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises: an imaging element (1) capable of reading accumulated charges of different exposure times in a predetermined frame period, the imaging element being divided into groups for long-time exposure and short-time exposure; and a timing pulse generator (2) for adjusting read timings of the imaging element (1). A first read timing at which an accumulated charge of long-time exposure is read from the group for long-time exposure and a second read timing at which an accumulated charge of short-time exposure is read from the group for short-time exposure are adjusted separately from each other. This provides an imaging device that can extend the dynamic range according to the degree of contrast between light and shade of a subject.

Abstract: An imaging device (1) includes an all-pixel readout imaging element (2) outputting a LONG signal and a SHORT signal in one field period for each pixel line, a mixing level calculator (7) calculating for each pixel line a mixing level at which the luminance level of the LONG signal is saturated, and an offset calculator (8) calculating for each pixel line an offset that raises the luminance level of the SHORT signal to the mixing level. Level mixing means (9) generates a level mixed signal for each pixel line so as to obtain a LONG signal when the luminance level is lower than the mixing level and obtain a SHORT signal with the offset added when the luminance level is higher than the mixing level. Consequently, an image having a wide dynamic range and a high resolution can be obtained and line-to-line luminance differences in the obtained image can be suppressed.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device which can enhance an image in comparison with the conventional imaging device, even if the image shows high and low brightness objects in one frame, by improving each of image sections corresponding to the high and low brightness objects. The imaging device (10) comprises an imaging element (11) for outputting at least two image signals including long and short exposure signals different in light exposure from each other, knee process unit (12) for performing knee process on the long exposure signal, signal synthesizing unit (15) for performing the synthesis of the short exposure signal and the long exposure signal processed and received from the knee process unit (12), and knee level changing unit (18) for changing, on the basis of the signal level of the short exposure signal, a knee level defined at a knee point in each frame.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises: an imaging element (1) capable of reading accumulated charges of different exposure times in a predetermined frame period, the imaging element being divided into groups for long-time exposure and short-time exposure; and a timing pulse generator (2) for adjusting read timings of the imaging element (1). A first read timing at which an accumulated charge of long-time exposure is read from the group for long-time exposure and a second read timing at which an accumulated charge of short-time exposure is read from the group for short-time exposure are adjusted separately from each other. This provides an imaging device that can extend the dynamic range according to the degree of contrast between light and shade of a subject.

Abstract: An imaging device (1) includes an all-pixel readout imaging element (2) outputting a LONG signal and a SHORT signal in one field period for each pixel line, a mixing level calculator (7) calculating for each pixel line a mixing level at which the luminance level of the LONG signal is saturated, and an offset calculator (8) calculating for each pixel line an offset that raises the luminance level of the SHORT signal to the mixing level. Level mixing means (9) generates a level mixed signal for each pixel line so as to obtain a LONG signal when the luminance level is lower than the mixing level and obtain a SHORT signal with the offset added when the luminance level is higher than the mixing level. Consequently, an image having a wide dynamic range and a high resolution can be obtained and line-to-line luminance differences in the obtained image can be suppressed.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device which can enhance an image in comparison with the conventional imaging device, even if the image shows high and low brightness objects in one frame, by improving each of image sections corresponding to the high and low brightness objects. The imaging device (10) comprises an imaging element (11) for outputting at least two image signals including long and short exposure signals different in light exposure from each other, knee process unit (12) for performing knee process on the long exposure signal, signal synthesizing unit (15) for performing the synthesis of the short exposure signal and the long exposure signal processed and received from the knee process unit (12), and knee level changing unit (18) for changing, on the basis of the signal level of the short exposure signal, a knee level defined at a knee point in each frame.

Abstract: A first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer are laminated on a semiconductor wafer in that order. A resist pattern having an opening is formed on the second semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is etched through the opening in the formed resist pattern to expose the first semiconductor layer. A surface oxide film is formed on the exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer and then selectively etched away. Alternatively, the exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer is subjected to a separate oxidization treatment and the resulting surface oxide film is selectively removed in the subsequent etching.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device including at least one oscillator circuit having a magnetoresistance element which converts a change of magnetism detected into a digital signal and a comparator for comparing the digitalized oscillating frequency of the oscillator circuit with another digitalized oscillating frequency generated from another oscillating circuit by taking a ratio thereof or by detecting a phase difference between the pulse signals. Utilizing the magnetic detection device, the amount of change of magnetism can be stably detected with a high accuracy within a wide range of ambient usage temperatures. The physical quantity detection device includes a magnetic detection device which can detect any physical quantity with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A silicon semiconductor substrate, on which an epitaxial layer is to be formed, is set in a reaction vessel having a heating mechanism, and a gas containing TMG and AsH.sub.3 is introduced into the reaction vessel with the substrate heated to 450.degree. C., thus forming, on the substrate, a low-temperature growth layer of amorphous or polycrystalline GaAs as a semiconductor substance having a different lattice constant from that of the substrate. Then, with the TMG removed from the introduced gas, the temperature of the semiconductor substrate is increased to 750.degree. C., to cause coagulation of atoms of the low-temperature growth layer, with a thermal treatment also being performed at this high temperature, to cause growth of island-like single crystal cores. Further, a high temperature growth process is conducted in a material gas atmosphere containing TMG, whereby a GaAs film is epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate surface.

Abstract: A pulse phase difference encoding circuit provides a digital signal indicating a phase difference between a first input pulse and a second input pulse. The first input pulse is provided to and circulated in a ring signal delay circuit having a plurality of signal delay elements that are connected in series. Intermediate points between the delay elements provide delayed pulses having different delay times. Upon receiving the second input pulse, a selector selects one delay pulse provided by the delay element at which the first input pulse has arrived, and generates a digital positional signal indicating a position of the selected delay element. The number of rounds of circulation of the first input pulse in the ring signal delay circuit is separately counted. According to the number of rounds of circulation of the first pulse and the positional signal, the digital signal indicating the phase difference between the first and second input pulses is formed.

Abstract: A magnetic detecting circuit has a magneto resistance element which converts a change of magnetism detected into a signal. A plurality of these magneto resistive elements are provided on a plane, and are oriented on the plane in two opposite directions having angles, relative to a bias direction, having substantially equal absolute values. The placement in opposite directions allows the resistance values from the elements to change in approximately the same direction as the object moves, to allow a monotonic change in the bias magnetic field. The change of the bias magnetic field can be detected from the change of resistance values of the magneto resistive elements.

Abstract: A pulse phase difference encoding circuit provides a digital signal indicating a phase difference between a first input pulse and a second input pulse. The first input pulse is provided to and circulated in a ring signal delay circuit having a plurality of signal delay elements that are connected in series. Intermediate points between the delay elements provide delayed pulses having different delay times. Upon receiving the second input pulse, a selector selects one delay pulse provided by the delay element at which the first input pulse has arrived, and generates a digital positional signal indicating a position of the selected delay element. The number of rounds of circulation of the first input pulse in the ring signal delay circuit is separately counted. According to the number of rounds of circulation of the first pulse and the positional signal, the digital signal indicating the phase difference between the first and second input pulses is formed.

Abstract: A Group III and V element compound semiconductor such as gallium arsenide is formed on a semiconductor wafer by so-called MOCVD. A first pair of convex portions, a second pair of convex portions and crossing portion are formed from such compound semiconductor by an etching using a predetermined etching substance so that one convex portion of each pair is opposite to the other convex portion thereof and that a same crystalline surface of the crossing portion is exposed at all points where the first pair of convex portions crosses the second pair of convex portions. A pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals are electrically connected to each convex portion of the first pair and the second pair, respectively so as to input electric current to each convex portion of the first pair and to output voltage generated in response to a magnetic field strength in such compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A Group III and V element compound semiconductor such as gallium arsenide is formed on a semiconductor wafer by so-called MOCVD. A first pair of convex portions, a second pair of convex portions and crossing portion are formed from such compound semiconductor by an etching using a predetermined etching substance so that one convex portion of each pair is opposite to the other convex portion thereof and that a same crystalline surface of the crossing portion is exposed at all points where the first pair of convex portions crosses the second pair of convex portions. A pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals are electrically connected to each convex portion of the first pair and the second pair, respectively so as to input electric current to each convex portion of the first pair and to output voltage generated in response to a magnetic field strength in such compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device including at least one oscillator circuit having a magnetoresistance element which converts a change of magnetism detected into a digital signal and a comparator for comparing the digitalized oscillating frequency of the oscillator circuit with another digitalized oscillating frequency generated from another oscillating circuit by taking a ratio thereof or by detecting a phase difference between the pulse signals. Utilizing the magnetic detection device, the amount of change of magnetism can be stably detected with a high accuracy within a wide range of ambient usage temperatures.Also, a physical quantity detection device including the magnetic detection device which can detect any physical quantity with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A pulse phase difference encoding circuit provides a digital signal indicating a phase difference between a first input pulse and a second input pulse. The first input pulse is provided to and circulated in a ring signal delay circuit having a plurality of signal delay elements that are connected in series. Intermediate points between the delay elements provide delayed pulses having different delay times. Upon receiving the second input pulse, a selector selects one delay pulse provided by the delay element at which the first input pulse has arrived, and generates a digital positional signal indicating a position of the selected delay element. The number of rounds of circulation of the first input pulse in the ring signal delay circuit is separately counted. According to the number of rounds of circulation of the first pulse and the positional signal, the digital signal indicating the phase difference between the first and second input phases is formed.