Abstract: A subject-to-be-examined support unit that supports a subject to be examined, a light source unit that outputs light entering the subject-to-be-examined support unit from a side opposite to a side by which a sample is supported, a fluorescent plate that is illuminated with the light that has been output from the light source unit and passed through the subject-to-be-examined support unit and the sample, and emits fluorescence, a photomultiplier that detects fluorescence that has been emitted from the fluorescent plate and passed through the subject-to-be-examined support unit and the sample, and a plate support unit that supports the fluorescent plate are provided. The plate support unit is structured in such a manner that a distance between the subject-to-be-examined support unit and the fluorescent plate is changeable by moving the fluorescent plate in a direction closer to the subject-to-be-examined support unit and in a direction away therefrom.

Abstract: There are provided a photographing apparatus and a photographing method capable of generating an added image by adding up images, the apparatus and the method achieving image quality of the added image. A photographing apparatus includes: a photographing section that photographs a subject a plurality of times sequentially; an image processing section that adds up images so as to generate an added image; and an exposure condition calculation section that calculates the minimum number of shots of the photography, which is for calculating a plurality of predetermined exposure time periods, and unit exposure time periods of the shots of the photography performed the minimum number of times, on the basis of set and input exposure conditions. The image processing section generates an added image of the plurality of exposure time periods by adding up images which are captured through the shots of the photography for the unit exposure time periods.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit which has an imaging element configured to nondestructively read an image signal and performs imaging of a subject using the imaging element, a reading control unit which performs nondestructive reading of the image signal from the imaging element during imaging of the subject, a temporary storage unit which stores the image signal nondestructively read by the reading control unit, an abnormality detection unit which detects the occurrence of an abnormal state during imaging of the subject, and a display control unit which reads and outputs the image signal stored in the storage unit in a case where the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging system which includes an imaging device to be used by multiple users, allows each user to perform imaging at an appropriate timing, and is capable of efficiently using the imaging device. An imaging system includes an imaging device, a plurality of terminal devices, and an authorization unit which gives the terminal devices the authority to specify controllable functions of the imaging device. The authorization unit switches between a first state where the terminal devices are given a first authority to exclusively occupy a part of functions of the imaging device with a controllable state and a second state where one terminal device is given a second authority to exclusively occupy and control the part of functions and to release the occupation, and the terminal devices other than one terminal device are given a third authority with the restriction of the control of the part of functions.

Abstract: In an image pickup device and method using a lens unit in which a plurality of lens arrays, are arranged and a lens holding unit is provided between the lens arrays, light emitted from the area corresponding to the lens holding unit can be detected. A moving mechanism that moves a lens unit or the observation target holding unit and the detection unit, and a moving mechanism control unit are provided. The moving mechanism control unit controls the moving mechanism such that the lens unit or the observation target holding unit and the detection unit are moved to a second position from a first position. The second position is set to a position when the lens array after the movement is disposed at a position facing the detection surface of the detection unit shielded by a lens holding unit when the lens unit is disposed at the first position.

Abstract: An imaging system using a transmission light source unit includes a sensor unit (imaging unit) that detects light emitted from a light source unit, a storage unit that stores correction data for eliminating the influence of ambient light, and a signal processing unit that performs correction for eliminating the influence of ambient light on measurement data, which is obtained by measurement using a subject, based on the correction data. The correction data is calculated based on a difference between first reference data obtained by imaging in a state where a light shielding plate having an opening is disposed between the light source unit and the sensor unit and second reference data obtained by imaging in a state where no light shielding plate is disposed.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit which has an imaging element configured to nondestructively read an image signal and performs imaging of a subject using the imaging element, a reading control unit which performs nondestructive reading of the image signal from the imaging element during imaging of the subject, a temporary storage unit which stores the image signal nondestructively read by the reading control unit, an abnormality detection unit which detects the occurrence of an abnormal state during imaging of the subject, and a display control unit which reads and outputs the image signal stored in the storage unit in a case where the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging device and method capable of obtaining an image with exposure appropriate for each sample when a plurality of samples are collectively imaged. For performing imaging using an imaging device configured to divide an imaging area into a plurality of partial areas, to perform imaging for each partial area, a proper exposure time is calculated for each partial area based on an image signal, a positive integer multiple of the maximum value among the calculated proper exposure times is set as a total imaging time, an imaging frequency is set for each partial area using a value obtained by dividing the total imaging time by the calculated proper exposure time, imaging with the calculated proper exposure time of the partial area is successively and repeatedly performed by the set imaging frequency , and each image successively imaged is simply added or is added and averaged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a imaging device and method capable of quickly informing a user of failure of sample creation and preventing useless imaging from being performed. The imaging device includes an imaging unit which images an object, an exposure time calculation unit which calculates, based on an image signal acquired by imaging of the imaging unit, an exposure time of the imaging until a signal value of the image signal reaches a target signal value set in advance, a determination unit which determines whether or not the exposure time exceeds a threshold value set in advance, and a display control unit which, in a case where it is determined that the exposure time exceeds the threshold value set in advance, gives notification of the result of the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging system which includes an imaging device to be used by multiple users, allows each user to perform imaging at an appropriate timing, and is capable of efficiently using the imaging device. An imaging system includes an imaging device, a plurality of terminal devices, and an authorization unit which gives the terminal devices the authority to specify controllable functions of the imaging device. The authorization unit switches between a first state where the terminal devices are given a first authority to exclusively occupy a part of functions of the imaging device with a controllable state and a second state where one terminal device is given a second authority to exclusively occupy and control the part of functions and to release the occupation, and the terminal devices other than one terminal device are given a third authority with the restriction of the control of the part of functions.

Abstract: There are provided a photographing apparatus and a photographing method capable of generating an added image by adding up images, the apparatus and the method achieving image quality of the added image. A photographing apparatus includes: a photographing section that photographs a subject a plurality of times sequentially; an image processing section that adds up images so as to generate an added image; and an exposure condition calculation section that calculates the minimum number of shots of the photography, which is for calculating a plurality of predetermined exposure time periods, and unit exposure time periods of the shots of the photography performed the minimum number of times, on the basis of set and input exposure conditions. The image processing section generates an added image of the plurality of exposure time periods by adding up images which are captured through the shots of the photography for the unit exposure time periods.

Abstract: There are provided a photographing apparatus and a method capable of photographing a subject a plurality of times sequentially and calculating exposure time periods in consideration of temporal change in light from the subject of the photography. The photographing apparatus includes: a photographing section; a photographic subject light information acquisition section; an exposure time calculation section and an image processing section that adds images sequentially captured through the shots of the photography. Assuming that n is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the exposure time calculation section calculates an exposure time period of an n-th shot on the basis of images captured through an (n?1)th shot or previous shots than the (n?1)th shot of the photography. The photographing section takes each shot of the photography, on the basis of each exposure time period which is calculated by the exposure time calculation section for each shot of the photography.

Abstract: An imaging system 1 includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, an input receiving unit, and a calculation unit configured to change an exposure time calculation method for calculating an exposure time required for a main imaging operation according to an imaging mode input to the input receiving unit and to calculate the exposure time with the changed exposure time calculation method. The imaging unit captures the image of the object at the exposure time calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: An imaging system using a transmission light source unit includes a sensor unit (imaging unit) that detects light emitted from a light source unit, a storage unit that stores correction data for eliminating the influence of ambient light, and a signal processing unit that performs correction for eliminating the influence of ambient light on measurement data, which is obtained by measurement using a subject, based on the correction data. The correction data is calculated based on a difference between first reference data obtained by imaging in a state where a light shielding plate having an opening is disposed between the light source unit and the sensor unit and second reference data obtained by imaging in a state where no light shielding plate is disposed.

Abstract: It is an imaging apparatus that outputs subject capture images having a plurality of kinds of number of pixels by binning imaging in which pixel addition of a plurality of pixels of an imaging device is performed, including: a correction information storage unit that stores a dark correction file storing an image correction data for one screen of the imaging device, a correction calculation data generating unit that generates a correction calculation data by obtaining a correction calculation value corresponding to each pixel of the subject capture image from the image correction data when the number of pixels of the subject capture image is different from the number of pixels of the image correction data; and an image correcting unit that corrects each pixel of the subject capture image by using the correction calculation value of a corresponding pixel position of the correction calculation data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a control unit, a noise reduction processing unit and a pixel value calculation unit. The control unit controls pulse widths of horizontal synchronization signals outputted to an imaging device such that a feed-through period and a signal period, in a case in which pixel addition in the horizontal direction is performed at the imaging device and imaging signals are outputted, are longer than a feed-through period and a signal period, in a case in which pixel addition in the horizontal direction is not performed at the imaging device. The noise reduction processing unit executes noise reduction processing to reduce the effects of noise produced in the imaging signals. The pixel value calculation unit calculates a pixel value on the basis of a first signal sampled in the feed-through period and a second signal sampled in the signal period.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a control unit, a noise reduction processing unit and a pixel value calculation unit. The control unit controls pulse widths of horizontal synchronization signals outputted to an imaging device such that a feed-through period and a signal period, in a case in which pixel addition in the horizontal direction is performed at the imaging device and imaging signals are outputted, are longer than a feed-through period and a signal period, in a case in which pixel addition in the horizontal direction is not performed at the imaging device. The noise reduction processing unit executes noise reduction processing to reduce the effects of noise produced in the imaging signals. The pixel value calculation unit calculates a pixel value on the basis of a first signal sampled in the feed-through period and a second signal sampled in the signal period.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus provided with an imaging device, a setting unit and a gain control unit. The imaging device images an imaging subject. On the basis of a saturation charge amount of the imaging device, which changes in accordance with a pixel addition number according to a pixel addition function of the imaging device, the setting unit sets a gain of imaging signals in accordance with a specified pixel addition number. The gain control unit controls the gain of the imaging signals in accordance with the gain set by the setting unit.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device that has: an image pick-up element that picks-up an image of a subject and transfers an image pick-up signal that has been picked-up; cooling unit that cools the image pick-up element; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the image pick-up element; pulse width modulation control unit that controls the cooling unit by a pulse width modulation signal, on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and transfer control unit that, on the basis of a duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal, controls transfer of the image pick-up signal such that transfer of the image pick-up signal is suspended at a timing that includes at least one of a rise and a fall of the pulse width modulation signal.