Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a shutter-operation accepting unit that accepts a shutter operation; an image capturing unit that captures an image of an object and generates a captured image; a brightness-information extracting unit that extracts, from the captured image, brightness information indicating brightness of the whole captured image; a luminance-value-distribution-information extracting unit that extracts, from the captured image, luminance-value-distribution information indicating a distribution of luminance values in the captured image; a scene determining unit that determines a scene of the object included in the captured image based on the extracted brightness information and luminance-value-distribution information; and a control unit that performs control to record captured images using at least two different image capturing/recording parameters if, when the shutter operation has been accepted, the scene of the object included in the captured image is determined to be a predetermined s

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a control unit configured to move a focusing lens, and detect a focus position; wherein the control unit executes auto-focus (AF) scan processing in which only a part of a range of movement of the focusing lens is set as a scan range, as first scan processing, and executes auto-focus (AF) scan processing in which a region including a region differing from the scan region of the first scan processing is set as a scan range, as second scan processing, in the event that a focus point is not detected in the first scan processing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive an input image to be processed; a brightness-information extracting unit configured to extract, from the image, brightness information indicating brightness of the whole image; a luminance-value-distribution-information extracting unit configured to extract, from the image, luminance-value-distribution information indicating a distribution of luminance values in the image; and a scene determining unit configured to determine a scene of an object included in the image on the basis of the extracted brightness information and the extracted luminance-value-distribution information.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which includes a camera shake correction mechanism and determines exposure conditions including at least a shutter speed in response to brightness of an image pickup object, including acquisition means, decision means, and setting means. The acquisition means is configured to acquire a focal distance of a lens for converging an optical image of the image pickup object. The decision means is configured to decide a camera shake limit shutter speed corresponding to the acquired focal distance. The setting means is configured to set, where the camera shake correction mechanism is valid, a shutter speed lower than the camera shake limit shutter speed by an amount corresponding to a predetermined difference in exposure value to one end of a setting range of the shutter speed of the exposure condition.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning apparatus provided with an ice making unit and a jet nozzle for ejecting fine ice particles against a wafer held within a cleaning vessel includes an exhaust chamber having an expanded portion and connected to the cleaning vessel. Curved guide plates extend from cleaning vessel into the exhaust chamber equidistant from each other into the expanded portion to guide the jet particles into the expanded portion. A flow regulator plate having a multitude of inverted frustum-shaped tapered holes regulates the jetted particles within the cleaning bath in accordance with the downward flow direction. Further, the upward flow from the exhaust chamber along the side walls is caught by stopper plates and exhausted via exhaust ports.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus disposed between a housing and a shaft received in the housing. The sealing apparatus has, at least, a fitting portion which is fitted to either one of the housing and the shaft, and a seal lip of an elastic material which extends axially obliquely from the fitting portion and is provided at its distal end with a seal portion. The sealing apparatus is provided with a bend preventing portion which is formed at the distal end of the seal lip such as to extend axially outwardly of the seal portion.