Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes: a silicon layer; a pixel portion formed in the silicon layer for processing and outputting signal charges obtained by carrying out photoelectric conversion for incident lights; an alignment mark formed in a periphery of the pixel portion and in the silicon layer; and a contact portion through which a first electrode within a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the silicon layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the silicon layer through an insulating film are connected, wherein the alignment mark and the contact portion are formed from conductive layers made of the same conductive material and formed within respective holes each extending completely through the silicon layer through respective insulating layers made of the same material.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions each provided in a semiconductor substrate and receives incident light through a light sensing surface, and a pixel separation portion provided to electrically separate a plurality of pixels. At least a pinning layer and a light shielding layer are provided in an inner portion of a trench provided on a side portion of each of the photoelectric conversion portions in an incident surface side, the trench includes a first trench and a second trench formed to be wider than the first trench in a portion shallower than the first trench, the pinning layer is formed in an inner portion of the first trench to cover an inside surface of the second trench, and the light shielding layer is formed to bury an inner portion of the second trench at least via the pinning layer.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes: a silicon layer; a pixel portion formed in the silicon layer for processing and outputting signal charges obtained by carrying out photoelectric conversion for incident lights; an alignment mark formed in a periphery of the pixel portion and in the silicon layer; and a contact portion through which a first electrode within a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the silicon layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the silicon layer through an insulating film are connected, wherein the alignment mark and the contact portion are formed from conductive layers made of the same conductive material and formed within respective holes each extending completely through the silicon layer through respective insulating layers made of the same material.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a through-hole, a vertical gate electrode, and a charge fixing film. A photoelectric conversion unit generating signal charges in accordance with the amount of received light is formed in the substrate. The through-hole is formed from a front surface side through a rear surface side of the substrate. The vertical gate electrode is formed through a gate insulating film in the through-hole and reads out the signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to a reading-out portion. The charge fixing film has negative fixed charges formed to cover a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole at the rear surface side of the substrate while covering the rear surface side of the substrate.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises first and second emitters, a fiber, and a controller. The first emitter emits illumination light to a photographic subject. The second emitter emits infrared light. Emission intensity of the second emitter is stronger than that of the first emitter. The fiber has a tip which moves in a spiral when viewed from the photographic subject during scan periods. The controller controls emission timing of the first and second emitters. Light emitted by the first and second emitters is cast from the tip of the fiber onto the photographic subject. The second emitter emits in a predetermined period of one of the scan periods, based on control of the emission timing, so as to shine infrared light with the second emitter to at least one part of the photographic subject, in order to perform marking.

Abstract: In an apparatus for estimating a temperature of a heating element such as IGBT mounted on an electronic printed circuit board, a first temperature and a second temperature at positions away from the heating element are detected, and it is determined whether a cooling device is operative. The temperature of the heating element is estimated based on the first and second temperatures using a first equation when the cooling device is inoperative, whereas it is estimated using a second equation when the cooling device is operative, thereby enabling to accurately estimate the temperature of the heating element equipped with the cooling device.

Abstract: A system-interconnected inverter connected to a commercial system for supplying AC power, which inverter includes a switching device for turning on and off DC power based on a predetermined duty value to output a voltage whose frequency is the same as that of a system power source and a controller for controlling the switching device. The controller changes the duty value of the switching device in accordance with the value obtained by dividing the maximum value by the effective value of the output current from the switching device measured with the system-interconnected inverter disconnected from the system power source.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes: a silicon layer; a pixel portion formed in the silicon layer for processing and outputting signal charges obtained by carrying out photoelectric conversion for incident lights; an alignment mark formed in a periphery of the pixel portion and in the silicon layer; and a contact portion through which a first electrode within a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the silicon layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the silicon layer through an insulating film are connected, wherein the alignment mark and the contact portion are formed from conductive layers made of the same conductive material and formed within respective holes each extending completely through the silicon layer through respective insulating layers made of the same material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion for converting a quantity of incident light into an electric signal, and a plurality of pixel transistors; wiring layers formed on one surface side of a semiconductor substrate having the plurality of pixels formed therein, a light made incident from a side opposite to the one surface having the wiring layers formed thereon being received by corresponding one of the photoelectric conversion portions; a scribe line formed in a periphery of a pixel portion composed of the plurality of pixels; and square-shaped termination detecting portions each having higher hardness than that of the semiconductor substrate and formed in the scribe line; wherein each of the square-shaped termination detecting portions has a side parallel with a direction of the scribe line of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope includes an exciting laser light source, a monitor sensor, an indicator, a shutter mechanism, an optical system, and a controller. The controller intermittently turns on the exciting laser light source for testing and controls the shutter mechanism so as to close the optical path of the exciting light, during a period after laser irradiation is permitted until the monitor sensor outputs the turn-on enable signal. The controller controls the shutter mechanism so as to open the optical path of the exciting light and controls the indicator so as to indicate to the effect that the exciting laser light source is ready for immediate emission, when the monitor sensor outputs the turn-on enable signal. Further, the controller turns on the exciting laser light source when an exciting light turn-on signal is input, thereby making the exciting light incident upon the light guide.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor. The electronic endoscope has a first memory, a second memory, and a program data transmitter. The first memory is provided in the video-scope, and is capable of storing program data associated with an operation of the video-processor. The second memory is provided in the video-processor, and is capable of storing the program data. The program data transmitter according to the present invention is capable of transmitting the program data from the first memory to the second memory in a situation where the video-scope is connected to the video-processor.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises first and second emitters, a fiber, and a controller. The first emitter emits illumination light to a photographic subject. The second emitter emits infrared light. Emission intensity of the second emitter is stronger than that of the first emitter. The fiber has a tip which moves in a spiral when viewed from the photographic subject during scan periods. The controller controls emission timing of the first and second emitters. Light emitted by the first and second emitters is cast from the tip of the fiber onto the photographic subject. The second emitter emits in a predetermined period of one of the scan periods, based on control of the emission timing, so as to shine infrared light with the second emitter to at least one part of the photographic subjects in order to perform marking.

Abstract: In an endoscope, scopes that include a scope-side memory and a connector are selectively and detachably connected to a processor that includes a processor-side memory and a connection member. A parameter stored in the scope-side memory can be written to the processor-side memory. The connector that is connectable to the connection member is used for connecting the scope to the processor. When the connection member that is movable is in the first position, the connector is detachably connectable to the connection member. When the connection member is in the second position, the subject is observable. When the connection member is moved from the first position to the second position, the parameter is written to the processor-side memory. When the connection member is moved from the second position to the first position, the parameter is written to the scope-side memory.

Abstract: A substrate polishing method, a semiconductor device and a fabrication method for a semiconductor device are disclosed by which high planarization polishing can be achieved. In the substrate polishing method, two or more different slurries formed from ceria abrasive grains having different BET values from each other are used to carry out two or more stages of chemical-mechanical polishing processing of a polishing object oxide film on a substrate to flatten the polishing object film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that prevents formation of scratches and occurrence of dishing in a CMP process. The method includes forming a first film on a part of a semiconductor substrate, forming a second film all over the semiconductor substrate, and a CMP process utilizing a ceria slurry to planarize the second film using the first film as a mask, the CMP process including performing a first CMP until a portion of the first film is exposed and performing a second CMP. A first ceria slurry of a predetermined abrasive grain concentration is employed in the first CMP, and a second ceria slurry of lower abrasive grain concentration is employed in the the second CMP. The number of scratches is reduced by reducing the abrasive grain concentration of the ceria slurry, and dishing is prevented by reducing a polishing rate ratio between the first and second films.

Abstract: In an endoscope, scopes that include a scope-side memory and a connector are selectively and detachably connected to a processor that includes a processor-side memory and a connection member. A parameter stored in the scope-side memory can be written to the processor-side memory. The connector that is connectable to the connection member is used for connecting the scope to the processor. When the connection member that is movable is in the first position, the connector is detachably connectable to the connection member. When the connection member is in the second position, the subject is observable. When the connection member is moved from the first position to the second position, the parameter is written to the processor-side memory. When the connection member is moved from the second position to the first position, the parameter is written to the scope-side memory.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope includes an exciting laser light source, a monitor sensor, an indicator, a shutter mechanism, an optical system, and a controller. The controller intermittently turns on the exciting laser light source for testing and controls the shutter mechanism so as to close the optical path of the exciting light, during a period after laser irradiation is permitted until the monitor sensor outputs the turn-on enable signal. The controller controls the shutter mechanism so as to open the optical path of the exciting light and controls the indicator so as to indicate to the effect that the exciting laser light source is ready for immediate emission, when the monitor sensor outputs the turn-on enable signal. Further, the controller turns on the exciting laser light source when an exciting light turn-on signal is input, thereby making the exciting light incident upon the light guide.

Abstract: In a rotation sensor including a rotor 10 mounted to a rotating shaft S and having a conductive sensing unit 12 whereof the width varies in the circumferential direction; and stationary cores 31, 32, 41, 42 each including an exciting coil for forming a magnetic circuit with respect to the sensing unit of the rotor by allowing AC exciting current to flow therein, and a core body formed of magnetic material and retaining the exciting coil, and being mounted to the fixed member and disposed so as to oppose to the sensing unit of the rotor at a distance in the axial direction of the shaft, the stationary cores are disposed at two positions each having a central angle with respect to the axis of the shaft other than substantially 180°, so that the rotation sensor which is superior in mountability, is low in cost, and is superior in detection accuracy over a wider range is provided.

Abstract: A seat belt connector assembly is provided with a seat belt anchor adapted to be coupled to a passenger seat and a cover for accommodating an upper part of the seat belt anchor. The seat belt anchor and the cover, which are relatively movable, are each formed with a seat-belt insertion hole permitting a seat belt to pass therethrough, and are formed with a mark and a through hole, respectively. When the desired relative position permitting the desired tension force to be applied to the seat belt is established between the seat belt anchor and the cover, the mark is made visible through the through hole.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system has a light source unit that is capable of selectively emitting normal-light and exciting-light, and a video-scope with an image sensor, which has an exciting-light eliminating or cutoff filter, and an image processor that processes image signals read from the image sensor. The image signal processor processes the image signals so as to compensate for a change of at least one of luminance and color in an observed image that occurs due to light blocked in accordance with the spectrum transmittance characteristics of the exciting-light eliminating filter.