Abstract: An objective optical system of an observation unit of the endoscope has a zoom function, and the movable lens for changing a zoom magnification of the objective optical system is controlled to be capable of moving to only a plurality of step positions SP1 to SP4 where specific zoom magnifications are obtained. A control circuit, which controls the movable lens, considers the number N of repetitions and the duration of an on-operation of a zoom switch that instructs the movable lens to move. For example, the movable lens is moved by a step corresponding to the number N of repetitions of the on-operation, and is moved to a step position, which is provided at an end, in a case in which the duration of the on-operation is long.

Abstract: An objective optical system of an observation unit of the endoscope has a zoom function, and the movable lens for changing a zoom magnification of the objective optical system is controlled to be capable of moving to only a plurality of step positions SP1 to SP4 where specific zoom magnifications are obtained. A control circuit, which controls the movable lens, considers the number N of repetitions and the duration of an on-operation of a zoom switch that instructs the movable lens to move. For example, the movable lens is moved by a step corresponding to the number N of repetitions of the on-operation, and is moved to a step position, which is provided at an end, in a case in which the duration of the on-operation is long.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion film stack-type solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a conductive light shield film. A signal reading portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion layer is stacked above the semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion film formed between a first electrode film and a second electrode films which is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to pixels respectively. The first light transmission layer is stacked above the light incidence side of the photoelectric conversion layer and made of a material that transmits light at least partially. The conductive light shield film is formed in the same layer level as the first light transmission layer and covers an outside of an effective pixel region.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a solid-state image sensor having a plurality of pixels includes a plurality of lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, an upper electrode, a wiring portion and a plurality of connection portions. The plurality of lower electrodes respectively corresponds to the plurality of pixels. The photoelectric conversion layer is stacked on the lower electrodes. The upper electrode is stacked on the photoelectric conversion layer. The wiring portion supplies, to the upper electrode, a voltage to generate an electric field between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. The plurality of connection portions connects the wiring portion and the upper electrode. The plurality of connection portions are disposed in a circumference region which is a region other than a sensor region in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged. The plurality of connection portions is disposed in a symmetrical arrangement.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion layer stack-type solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion portion, a conductive light shield film, and a dielectric layer. A signal reading portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion portion is stacked above a light incidence side of the semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion layer formed between a first electrode film and a second electrode film which is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to pixels respectively. The conductive light shield film is stacked above the light incidence side of the photoelectric conversion portion outside an effective pixel region. The dielectric layer is disposed between the conductive light shield and the first electrode film.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes, on a substrate, a lower electrode, a photoelectric converting layer that is disposed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode that is disposed on the photoelectric converting layer. The device further includes: a boosting unit which is formed in the substrate, and which supplies a power supply voltage for producing an electric field between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; a wiring portion which electrically connects the output of the boosting unit to the upper electrode; and a low-pass filter which is connected to the output of the boosting unit, and which includes a resistor that is formed by at least a part of the wiring portion.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion film stack-type solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a conductive light shield film. A signal reading portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion layer is stacked above the semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion film formed between a first electrode film and a second electrode films which is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to pixels respectively. The first light transmission layer is stacked above the light incidence side of the photoelectric conversion layer and made of a material that transmits light at least partially. The conductive light shield film is formed in the same layer level as the first light transmission layer and covers an outside of an effective pixel region.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion film stack-type solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a conductive light shield film. A signal reading portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion layer is stacked above the semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion film formed between a first electrode film and a second electrode films which is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to pixels respectively. The conductive light shield film is stacked above a light incidence side of the photoelectric conversion layer and is electrically connected to the first electrode film at an outside of an effective pixel region.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a solid-state image sensor having a plurality of pixels includes a plurality of lower electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, an upper electrode, a wiring portion and a plurality of connection portions. The plurality of lower electrodes respectively corresponds to the plurality of pixels. The photoelectric conversion layer is stacked on the lower electrodes. The upper electrode is stacked on the photoelectric conversion layer. The wiring portion supplies, to the upper electrode, a voltage to generate an electric field between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. The plurality of connection portions connects the wiring portion and the upper electrode. The plurality of connection portions are disposed in a circumference region which is a region other than a sensor region in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged. The plurality of connection portions is disposed in a symmetrical arrangement.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head includes: a piezoelectric body which generates pressure for ejecting liquid; a spacer member which forms a space allowing the piezoelectric body to be displaced; and an electrical connection member which connects the piezoelectric body with a substrate having a wire, the electrical connection member being provided inside the space, wherein the following formula is satisfied: ?min×L/?Lmin?E??max×L/?Lmax, where a range from ?min through ?max represents a range of a pressing force when the piezoelectric body and the substrate is connected via the electrical connection member, L represents a thickness of the spacer member, a range from ?Lmin through ?Lmax represents a range of an amount of compressive deformation of the spacer member when the pressing force is applied within the range of the pressing force, and E represents a Young's modulus of the spacer member.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes, on a substrate, a lower electrode, a photoelectric converting layer that is disposed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode that is disposed on the photoelectric converting layer. The device further includes: a boosting unit which is formed in the substrate, and which supplies a power supply voltage for producing an electric field between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; a wiring portion which electrically connects the output of the boosting unit to the upper electrode; and a low-pass filter which is connected to the output of the boosting unit, and which includes a resistor that is formed by at least a part of the wiring portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head which has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure generating elements corresponding to the nozzles, and applies a drive signal to the pressure generating elements so as to eject recording liquid from the nozzles; a plurality of drive waveform generating circuits which generate the drive signal having waveform for driving the pressure generating elements; a plurality of dummy capacitive loads which are connected to the drive waveform generating circuits; and a circuit selection device which selects at least one of the drive waveform generating circuits for applying the drive signal to at least one of the pressure generating elements and the dummy capacitive loads.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with reduced momentary current consumption is provided. The apparatus includes: a plurality of drive waveform generating circuits; a circuit selection device which selectively switches the drive waveform generating circuits for applying the drive signal waveforms to pressure generating elements; a power source which supplies power to the pressure generating elements via the drive waveform generating circuits; and a control device which selects a first drive waveform generating circuit used for driving each of the pressure generating elements, with respect to each of the pressure generating elements, of the plurality of drive waveform generating circuits, in such a manner that no drive waveform generating circuit in which an amount of momentary current consumption exceeds a prescribed tolerable value, of the plurality of drive waveform generating circuits, exists.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection elements with liquid ejecting nozzles arranged in a matrix along a row direction and in a column direction which is substantially parallel to a sub-scanning direction along which either the head or a liquid ejection receiving medium is moved. Each group of ejection elements forming each column of the matrix having a heating element that is as long as the length of that column and that can heat the liquid prior to ejection. A prediction device predicts a number of the ejection elements to be driven in each of the column groups according to ejection data and a heating control device independently controls the heating elements of each column group according to the number of the ejection elements to be driven in that column group as predicted by the prediction device.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head which includes a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure generating elements provided correspondingly to the plurality of nozzles, the pressure generating elements being applied with drive signals to eject recording liquid from the corresponding nozzles; a plurality of driving wave generating circuits which generate drive-signal waves for driving the pressure generating elements; a circuit selecting device which selectively switches the driving wave generating circuits to apply the drive-signal waves to the pressure generating elements; a power source which supplies electricity to the pressure generating elements through the driving wave generating circuits; a connection control device which, in accordance with image data representing an image to be formed, selects at least one of the driving wave generating circuits used to drive the pressure generating elements, and controls connection between the at least one of the driving wave generat

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head including a plurality of nozzles arranged in a prescribed pattern in a first direction and a plurality of pressure generating elements provided to correspond with the plurality of nozzles respectively, wherein liquid is ejected toward a recording medium from the nozzles by supplying drive signals to the pressure generating elements; a plurality of drive waveform generating circuits which generate drive signal waveforms for driving the pressure generating elements; a circuit selection device which selectively switches the drive waveform generating circuits for applying the drive signal waveforms to the pressure generating elements, of the plurality of drive waveform generating circuits; a power source which supplies power to the pressure generating elements via the drive waveform generating circuits; and a control device which selects a first drive waveform generating circuit used for driving each of the pressure generating elements, with respect to

Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: a piezoelectric body which generates pressure for ejecting liquid; a spacer member which forms a space allowing the piezoelectric body to be displaced; and an electrical connection member which connects the piezoelectric body with a substrate having a wire, the electrical connection member being provided inside the space, wherein the following formula is satisfied: ?min×L/?Lmin?E??maxL/?Lmax, where a range from ?min through ?max represents a range of a pressing force when the piezoelectric body and the substrate is connected via the electrical connection member, L represents a thickness of the spacer member, a range from ?Lmin through ?Lmax represents a range of an amount of compressive deformation of the spacer member when the pressing force is applied within the range of the pressing force, and E represents a Young's modulus of the spacer member.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head including: a plurality of ejection elements arranged in a row direction coinciding with a main scanning direction and in a column direction which is substantially parallel to a sub-scanning direction, each of the ejection elements having a nozzle which ejects liquid onto an ejection receiving medium and having a piezoelectric element which applies an ejection force to the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle, the ejection elements forming groups of the ejection elements, each of the groups of the ejection elements being constituted by the ejection elements arranged in the column direction; and a plurality of heating elements which heat the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles and are arranged in the row direction correspondingly to the groups of the ejection elements, each of the heating elements having a length in the column direction substantially equal to or greater than a length of each of the groups of the ejection elements; a movement devi

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head which has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure generating elements corresponding to the nozzles, and applies a drive signal to the pressure generating elements so as to eject recording liquid from the nozzles; a plurality of drive waveform generating circuits which generate the drive signal having waveform for driving the pressure generating elements; a plurality of dummy capacitive loads which are connected to the drive waveform generating circuits; and a circuit selection device which selects at least one of the drive waveform generating circuits for applying the drive signal to at least one of the pressure generating elements and the dummy capacitive loads.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head which includes a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure generating elements provided correspondingly to the plurality of nozzles, the pressure generating elements being applied with drive signals to eject recording liquid from the corresponding nozzles; a plurality of driving wave generating circuits which generate drive-signal waves for driving the pressure generating elements; a circuit selecting device which selectively switches the driving wave generating circuits to apply the drive-signal waves to the pressure generating elements; a power source which supplies electricity to the pressure generating elements through the driving wave generating circuits; a connection control device which, in accordance with image data representing an image to be formed, selects at least one of the driving wave generating circuits used to drive the pressure generating elements, and controls connection between the at least one of the driving wave generat