Abstract: Provided is an endoscope system capable of improving luminance and an S/N ratio of a normal observation image that is obtained in a special observation mode. In a special observation mode, after first illumination light is radiated, some of a plurality of pixel rows of an imaging element are reset en bloc. Illumination light is switched to second illumination light, the second illumination light is radiated, and then, a turned-off state is reached. During this turn-off period, signal reading is sequentially performed from all pixel rows. An image processing unit generates a normal observation image on the basis of a first imaging signal without being subjected to resetting. Further, the image processing unit generates an oxygen saturation image on the basis of a second imaging signal read from the pixel row subjected to the resetting and exposed by only the second illumination light, and the first imaging signal.

Abstract: It is a method of driving a MOS type imaging element in which pixels having sensitivities for different colors are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the imaging element has at least two types of read-out lines having different pixel arrangements to read out a charge signal of the pixels, and the method includes driving such that a read-out time interval of a charge signal of at least one type of read-out line among the read-out lines is longer than a read-out time interval of another type of read-out line and a charge accumulating period of each pixel of the one type of read-out line is longer than a charge accumulating period of each pixel of said another type of read-out line.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope system capable of improving luminance and an S/N ratio of a normal observation image that is obtained in a special observation mode. In a special observation mode, after first illumination light is radiated, some of a plurality of pixel rows of an imaging element are reset en bloc. Illumination light is switched to second illumination light, the second illumination light is radiated, and then, a turned-off state is reached. During this turn-off period, signal reading is sequentially performed from all pixel rows. An image processing unit generates a normal observation image on the basis of a first imaging signal without being subjected to resetting. Further, the image processing unit generates an oxygen saturation image on the basis of a second imaging signal read from the pixel row subjected to the resetting and exposed by only the second illumination light, and the first imaging signal.

Abstract: In the special observation mode, second illumination light including different-absorption-wavelength light that has different absorption coefficients for oxygenated hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin is emitted, a turn-off state is thereafter initiated, and signal reading is performed for some of a plurality of pixel rows in accordance with a skip read method. Subsequently, first illumination light, which is normal light, is emitted, a turn-off state is thereafter initiated, and signal reading is performed for all of the pixel rows in a column direction in accordance with a pixel addition read method. An image processor generates an oxygen saturation image on the basis of a second image capture signal read in accordance with the skip read method and a first image capture signal read in accordance with the pixel addition read method, and generates a normal observation image on the basis of the first image capture signal.

Abstract: There are provided an endoscope system, a processor apparatus for an endoscope system, and a method for operating an endoscope system. In a special observation mode, first illumination light and second illumination light having a spectral property different from a spectral property of the first illumination light and including different-absorption-wavelength light that has different absorption coefficients for oxygenated hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin are alternately emitted to a test body while a turn-off period is interposed. A first image capture signal is read from the image sensor during the turn-off period after emission of the first illumination light, and a second image capture signal is read from the image sensor during the turn-off period after emission of the second illumination light. Here, a second read time taken to read the second image capture signal is made shorter than a first read time taken to read the first image capture signal.

Abstract: A color image sensor comprises normal pixels and phase difference pixels. A pixel combining circuit combines pixel signals of the normal pixels, and combines pixel signals of the normal pixel and the phase difference pixel of the same color. Thereby the pixel combining circuit produces a composite image. An edge detector uses a pixel signal of each pixel in the composite image to detect an edge of a subject. The edge is vertical to a direction in which a difference between the pixel signals is at the maximum. A pixel signal correction processor corrects the combined pixel signals through interpolation along the edge and with the use of pixel signals of the same color obtained by combining the pixel signals of the normal pixels in a case where the pixel signals of the phase difference pixels are combined across the edge.

Abstract: A unit group which is formed by pixel cell rows L1, L2, L1A, and L2A is divided into groups BG1 and BG2. The defocus amount calculating unit calculates a phase difference of the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51R with respect to the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51L for BG1, calculates a phase difference of the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51L with respect to the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51R for BG2, and calculates a defocus amount based on a difference between the two calculated phase differences. The driving unit performs exposure in the order of the pixel cell rows L1 and L2 for BG1 and performs exposure in the order of the pixel cell rows L2A and L1A for BG2.

Abstract: An imaging element 5 includes an imaging pixel cell 30 and focus detecting pixel cells 31R and 31L. The digital signal processing unit 17 determines which one of interpolation processing and gain correction processing is to be performed using at least the F value at the time of imaging. The interpolation processing corrects the output signal of the focus detecting pixel cell through signal interpolation using the output signals of the surrounding imaging pixel cells, and the gain correction processing amplifies and corrects the output signal of the focus detecting pixel cell by a gain.

Abstract: A color image sensor comprises normal pixels and phase difference pixels. A pixel combining circuit combines pixel signals of the normal pixels, and combines pixel signals of the normal pixel and the phase difference pixel of the same color. Thereby the pixel combining circuit produces a composite image. An edge detector uses a pixel signal of each pixel in the composite image to detect an edge of a subject. The edge is vertical to a direction in which a difference between the pixel signals is at the maximum. A pixel signal correction processor corrects the combined pixel signals through interpolation along the edge and with the use of pixel signals of the same color obtained by combining the pixel signals of the normal pixels in a case where the pixel signals of the phase difference pixels are combined across the edge.

Abstract: A unit group which is formed by pixel cell rows L1, L2, L1A, and L2A is divided into groups BG1 and BG2. The defocus amount calculating unit calculates a phase difference of the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51R with respect to the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51L for BG1, calculates a phase difference of the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51L with respect to the output signal group of the phase difference detecting pixel cells 51R for BG2, and calculates a defocus amount based on a difference between the two calculated phase differences. The driving unit performs exposure in the order of the pixel cell rows L1 and L2 for BG1 and performs exposure in the order of the pixel cell rows L2A and L1A for BG2.

Abstract: It is a method of driving a MOS type imaging element in which pixels having sensitivities for different colors are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the imaging element has at least two types of read-out lines having different pixel arrangements to read out a charge signal of the pixels, and the method includes driving such that a read-out time interval of a charge signal of at least one type of read-out line among the read-out lines is longer than a read-out time interval of another type of read-out line and a charge accumulating period of each pixel of the one type of read-out line is longer than a charge accumulating period of each pixel of said another type of read-out line.

Abstract: An imaging element 5 includes an imaging pixel cell 30 and focus detecting pixel cells 31R and 31L. The digital signal processing unit 17 determines which one of interpolation processing and gain correction processing is to be performed using at least the F value at the time of imaging. The interpolation processing corrects the output signal of the focus detecting pixel cell through signal interpolation using the output signals of the surrounding imaging pixel cells, and the gain correction processing amplifies and corrects the output signal of the focus detecting pixel cell by a gain.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a device control unit that performs a driving in which a first captured image signal during a first exposure period and a second captured image signal during each of second exposure periods are read by sequentially exposing second photoelectric conversion elements for the second exposure periods while exposing first photoelectric conversion elements for the first exposure period, and an image processing unit that performs a processing in which a captured image signal with a dynamic range is generated by using the first captured image signal and at least one of the second captured image signals, and the processing includes plural types of processings where numbers of the second captured image signals to be used are different.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has normal pixels, first phase difference pixels, and second phase difference pixels. “R”, “G”, and “B” denote colors of color filters provided for the respective pixels. A color dependence characteristic calculator averages output signals from the normal pixels located at the center of a screen, on a color basis, and thereby calculates average output signals. A color determination section determines a main color of a subject, out of three primary colors, based on the average output signals. An AF controller performs focus adjustment of a taking lens based on the output signals of the determined main color, out of the output signals from the first phase difference pixels and the second phase difference pixels.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has normal pixels, first phase difference pixels, and second phase difference pixels. “R”, “G”, and “B” denote colors of color filters provided for the respective pixels. A color dependence characteristic calculator averages output signals from the normal pixels located at the center of a screen, on a color basis, and thereby calculates average output signals. A color determination section determines a main color of a subject, out of three primary colors, based on the average output signals. An AF controller performs focus adjustment of a taking lens based on the output signals of the determined main color, out of the output signals from the first phase difference pixels and the second phase difference pixels.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually show both of information which is originally visually recognizable and information which is originally not seen that have been provided from equipment on the same image, so that it is possible to grasp the content of information and the source of providing the information corresponding to or in association with each other. Furthermore, it is possible to view information difficult to visually recognize together with visually recognizable information, and it is possible to clearly grasp, in addition to information which can be visually obtained at the place where a user currently stays, information related to the visually obtained information, from an image visually indicating the association.

Abstract: A backside-illuminated imaging device is provided and includes: a plurality of charge accumulating areas in the semiconductor substrate which accumulate the electric charges; and a plurality of filters above a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the respective charge accumulating areas. The plurality of filters includes different color filters which transmit different color components of the light from one another and luminance filters each having a spectral characteristic correlated with a luminance component of the light, the plurality of charge accumulating areas includes first charge accumulating areas corresponding to the respective color filters, and second charge accumulating areas corresponding to the respective luminance filters, and the second charge accumulating areas includes a third charge accumulating area having a size larger than those of the first accumulating areas.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an effective pixel region where photoelectric converting portions for obtaining an imaging signal corresponding to light from an object are disposed; an OB pixel region having an element region for obtaining a reference signal of an optical black level; a first light blocking layer which is disposed on the effective pixel region, and in which openings are provided above the photoelectric converting portions; and a second light blocking layer which is disposed on the OB pixel region, the first light blocking layer and the second light blocking layer are electrically isolated from each other by an isolating region, and the imaging device further includes a light blocking section for blocking light from entering the isolating region is provided.

Abstract: According to a remote control device of the present invention, the operation situation according to the transmission of the remote control signal is judged based on a changing brightness of the image, and the information of the content according to the result of judgment is displayed. Thereby, it is possible to investigate a reaction of the apparatus to be controlled to the remote control signal, and visually indicate the reaction to the user.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup element is disclosed which includes: a semiconductor substrate at which a plurality of element rows, in which a plurality of light-receiving elements are aligned along a vertical direction, are disposed in parallel along a horizontal direction; a plurality of color filters disposed in a predetermined color pattern at a light incident side of the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of transfer paths transferring charge accumulated in the respective light-receiving elements of corresponding element rows. The sequence of lining-up in the horizontal direction of the element rows and the vertical transfer paths corresponding to the element rows at divisional regions, which are divided at a border line that runs along the vertical direction and includes a position corresponding to an optical axis of light incident from an optical unit on the semiconductor substrate, are opposite to one another. Also disclosed is an image pickup device using the solid-state image pickup element.